Iron is hard, brittle, fairly fusible, and is used to
produce other alloys, including steel. The following table provides all
the features of iron as a material.
Iron is a metal extracted from iron ore using blast
furnace, and is almost never found in the free elemental state.
The Blast Furnace

Low carbon steel (less than 0·25% carbon) is called mild steel.
Mild steel is cheap, strong and easily shaped. It is the main metal for
construction and is used to make bridges, buildings, ships and vehicles.
| |
Iron mixed withtext |
Special properties |
Uses include |
| Stainless steel |
Chromium and nickel |
Resists corrosion |
Cutlery, cooking utensils, kitchen sinks,
industrial equipment for food and drink processing |
| Titanium steel |
Titanium |
Withstands high temperatures |
Gas turbines, spacecraft |
| Manganese steel |
Manganese |
Very hard |
Rock-breaking machinery, some railway track (e.g.
points), military helmets |
High carbon steel (more than 0·5% carbon) is stronger than mild
steel but it is more brittle. High carbon steel is used to make tools
and cutters.
Steel has the disadvantage of needing a protective coating (for example
paint) or it will react with oxygen in the air and rust. Rusting is the
reverse of the process in the blast furnace - see rusting.
Manganese steel is an alloy of iron (84%), manganese
(15%) and carbon (1%). Manganese steel is extremely hard and is used for
railway points and dredging equipment.
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron (80%), chromium
(15%), nickel (4%) and carbon (0·5 to 1%). Stainless steel is
strong and hard, with a very high resistance to corrosion (due to
chromium). It is used for cookware, cutlery and industrial chemical
plant.
Titanium steel alloy may contain 0·5 to 2%
titanium with varying amounts of other metals including chromium, nickel
and vanadium. Titanium steel is very hard and finds uses in aircraft and
armour plating.