Guide to History of Steel | Basics and Evolution

In the previous article, we learned about which Is better for fabrication, aluminum vs stainless Steel. Today, we will discuss the history of Steel, including the basics of Steel, who first develop Steel, and the evolution of Steel.

Steel predates the Iron Age by several thousand years, yet it has been a popular building material ever since. This is due to several factors, including the wide range of shapes it can take, its strength, and its comparatively lightweight compared to other metals. However, where did it originate, and how did it change after creation?

Basics Of Steel

Let's first discuss what steel is in reality. Steel is an alloy predominantly made of iron with a trace amount of carbon (often a few tenths of one percent). Other substances like chromium, manganese, or nickel may also be present in steel, depending on the grade and type of steel. Various additions add desirable qualities like enhanced hardness, corrosion resistance, and others to the final metal. Steel's adaptability over the centuries has allowed it to maintain its position as the metal that is used most widely across the globe.

When Was Steel First Developed?

We have discovered evidence of steel artifacts dating as far back as 1800 BC. However, the first evidence of steel production dates to the 13th century BC in Turkey. The amount of carbon in early steel varied widely, ranging from less than 0.1% (low-carbon steel) to 1% (high-carbon steel), which could make high-carbon steel extremely brittle. Tempering the steel, a heat treatment used in Egypt as early as 900 BC, might lessen its brittleness.

When Was Carbon Steel Developed?

Because of the initial procedure's formation of carbon monoxide gas in the metal, which eventually made its way to the surface and produced "blisters," the first type of steel made was known as blister steel. Although the earliest steel was carbon steel (containing only iron and carbon as alloying ingredients), they didn't reliably and consistently produce carbon steel until 500 AD in Japanese swords and Damascus steel. See the difference between carbon steel and stainless steel.

Who Created Steel?

Sir Henry Bessemer is commonly regarded as the "Father of Steel," even though no one is aware of a single person (or even a single civilization) who invented steel originally. He was an English engineer who was instrumental in developing the modern steel industry in the 1800s. He created the first method for producing steel at a low cost, which eventually resulted in the creation of the Bessemer converter. These converters, which were an essential component of the process and increased the effectiveness of the steel-making process, allowed impurities to be eliminated from up to 30 tonnes of metal at a time.

The Evolution Of Steel

Over the past few thousand years, steel has changed significantly. Henry Bessemer was one of the most innovative people when it came to manufacturing process advances. Steel is now being recycled rather than created from the start, which is another significant advancement in this process. Using scrap steel for manufacturing is becoming more frequent and increases productivity because it doesn't lose any strength after being melted down and reformed. In addition, with the introduction of EAFs (electric arc furnaces) to replace conventional blast furnaces, steel recycling technology has advanced to be more efficient and ecologically sound.