Steel is one of the most versatile substances in the modern world. It is used widely in manufacturing, construction, metal fabrication, and a host of other industries. As one of the pillars of society, it has a long and fascinating history, from its origins in the ancient world to the industrial age. Here’s a brief overview of a few key points in its evolution.

Steel & Metal Fabrication Through the Ages

Ancient Origins

Ancient metalworkers first created steel nearly 4,000 years ago, when they discovered that charcoal could be used in the smelting process to make iron stronger. This worked because charcoal contains carbon, which, when mixed with iron ore, yielded a harder metal. The process was very crude, however, and it wasn’t until much later that the metal had practical applications. The Egyptians and the Chinese were among the first civilizations to forge steel.

Damascus Steel

Damascus steel was a famed product created in India during the 11th century AD. It became renowned across the world for its strength — especially when forged into swords and other weapons — and, famously, the process used to make it has never been discovered in the modern age. At the time when it was made, Damascus steel was centuries ahead of other metalworking technology.

The Bessemer Process

In 1856, a British inventor patented a process for removing impurities from iron using oxidation. Although a similar process had been used in 11th century China, this was one of the modern world’s first steps toward mass-producing steel. It allowed for a massive expansion of railways, weapons construction, agriculture, and more.

The Open-Hearth Process

Although the Bessemer process was a huge step forward, it was still limited in scope. Mass production technologies made another leap in the 1860s when an engineer invented a method capable of producing 50-100 metric tons of steel in one furnace. By the end of the century, this technique had mostly replaced the Bessemer process around the world. This created the possible conditions for the birth of a huge industry that fueled the fortunes of men like Andre Carnegie.

The Steel Industry Today

To fulfill the world’s current appetite for steel, a fast and efficient process called oxygen steelmaking is now used in nearly 70% of production. In this process, furnaces blow oxygen directly into bulk quantities of molten iron, quickly converting it into quality steel. Older methods can’t compete with this for the output needed for the modern world.

Today, the best steel around Willow Springs, MO, comes from Pipe Plus. With over 20 years of experience as a steel distributor, welding contractor, metal fabrication provider, and more, the company is dedicated to producing superior work for their clients. To learn more about the company, call (417) 469-5292 today.