What did Puddling Process / Stir-Frying Steel look like?

In a smelting or puddling furnace, pig iron is heated to a molten or semi-molten state and continuously stirred with a long iron rod.

How did Puddling Process / Stir-Frying Steel work?

Pig iron (C 3-4%) heated to semi-molten state → stirring brings carbon into contact with air → C + O₂ → CO₂↑ → carbon content drops to 0.1-0.5% → iron becomes soft and forgeable → removed and forged.

← DiscoveriesS-Tier · Foundational

炒钢法

Puddling Process / Stir-Frying Steel

A liquid pig iron decarburization process: stirring molten pig iron to oxidize carbon, enabling mass production of wrought iron / low-carbon steel.

炒钢法

Scientific Principle

Oxidative decarburization: C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g). Diffusion-controlled: stirring accelerates carbon atom diffusion to the surface for oxidation.

炒钢法

Puddling Process / Stir-Frying Steel

Scientific Principle

Related · 汉代