Wrought iron

A malleable, ductile, soft and almost pure form of iron with less than 0.1% carbon incorporating 0.2% slag or cinder, which during manufacture is hammered and squeezed through the mass of the metal, producing the fibrous structure which makes wrought iron easily recognisable when broken across the grain. Produced either by direct reduction of iron ore in the presence of carbon (e.g. by heating with charcoal) or by heating cast iron in the presence of oxygen. Only recycled material is now available and this is also commonly now referred to as real wrought iron.