Iron and steel in history
It is believed that iron in pre-historic times may have been obtained from fragments of meteorites and it remained a rare metal for many centuries. Even after man learned how to extract iron from its ores, the product probably was so relatively soft and unpredictable, that bronze continued to be preferred for tools and weapons. Eventually iron replaced the non-ferrous metal for these purposes when man learned how to master the difficult arts of smelting, forging, hardening and tempering iron.
Man's use of iron in antiquity is attested by references to the metal in fragmentary writing and inscriptions from the ancient civilizations of Babylon, Egypt, China, India, Greece and Rome. Archeological finds in Mesopotamia and Egypt are proof that iron, and later steel, have been in the service of mankind for almost 6000 years. In early times, iron was melted with the use of charcoal made from wood. Later coal was discovered as a great source of heat. Subsequently, it was converted into coke, which was found to be ideal for smelting of iron ore.
Iron kept its dominant position for around 200 or more years after the Saugus works, the first successful iron works in America, was founded in 1646. With the advance of the Industrial Revolution, iron formed the rails for the newly invented railroad trains. It was also used to armour the sides of the fighting ships. About the mid-19th century, the age of steel began with the invention of the Bessemer process (1856), which allowed steel to be made in large quantities and at reasonable cost.
Use of iron in ancient India
Indian history is also full of references to the use of iron and steel. Some of the ancient monuments like the famous Iron pillar in New Delhi or the massive beams used in the Sun Temple at Konark bear ample testimony to the technological excellence of ancient Indian metallurgists.
The use of iron in India goes back to the ancient era. Vedic literary sources such as the Rig Veda, the Atharva Veda, the Puranas and epics are filled with references to iron and to its uses in peace and war. According to one of the studies, iron has been produced in India for over 3000 years in primitive, small-scale facilities.
Some milestones in iron and steel in Indian history
| 326 BC | Porus presented Alexander 30 lbs of Indian iron |
| 300 BC | Kautilya (Chanakya) showed knowledge of minerals, including iron ores, and the art of extracting metals in 'Arthshastra'. |
| 320 AD | A 16-meter Iron pillar erected at Dhar, ancient capital of Malwa (near Indore). |
| 330-380 AD | Iron pillar in memory of Chandragupta II erected near Delhi. This solid shaft of wrought iron is about 8 meters in height and has dia. 0.32 to 0.46m. |
| 13th century | Massive iron beams used in the construction of the Sun temple, Konark |
| 16th century | Indian steel known as 'Wootz' of watery appearance used in the Middle East and Europe |
| 17th century | Manufacture of cannons, firearms and swords and agricultural implements 1830 Suspension bridge built over the Beas at Saugor with iron from Tendulkhma (MP). JM Heath built iron smelter at Porto Nova, Madras Presidency |
| 1870 | Bengal Iron works established at Kulti |
| 1907 | Tata Iron & Steel Company formed |
| 1953 | Indian Government entered into agreement with Krupp Demag, Federal Republic of Germany to set up steel plant at Rourkela |
| 1954 | Hindustan Steel Limited formed to construct and manage three integrated steel plants at Rourkela, Durgapur and Bhilai |
| 1956 | Second Industrial Policy resolution vested the state with the exclusive responsibility for developing industries, including iron and steel, and the term Public Sector came into use for these |
| 1960 | Alloy steels plant installed at Durgapur |
| 1965 | Government of India signed agreement to establish steel plant at Bokaro |
| 1973 | Steel Authority of India Limited formed on 24th January |
| 2006 | IISCO merged with SAIL. Renamed IISCO Steel Plant. |
Global Scenario
World's total crude steel production grew at a slower rate during the first half of this century and the growth rate picked up at a significant rate after the second world war:
| 1900 | 28 MT | 1988 | 780 MT |
| 1927 | 101 MT | 1989 | 785 MT |
| 1943 | 159 MT | 1990 | 770 MT |
| 1946 | 111 MT | 1991 | 736 MT |
| 1951 | 211 MT | 1992 | 723 MT |
| 1968 | 523 MT | 1993 | 730 MT |
| 1970 | 595 MT | 1995 | 752 MT |
| 1972 | 630 MT | 1996 | 750 MT |
| 1974 | 703 MT | 1997 | 799 MT |
| 1979 | 746 MT | 1998 | 777 MT |
| 1982 | 645 MT | 1999 | 789 MT |
| 1983 | 663 MT | 2000 | 848 MT |
| 1984 | 771 MT | 2001 | 850 MT |
| 1985 | 719 MT | 2002 | 904 MT |
| 1986 | 713 MT | 2003 | 970 MT |
| 1987 | 736 MT | 2004 | 1,069 MT |
| 2005 | 1,147 MT | ||
| 2006 | 1, 251 MT | ||
| 2007 | 1,344 MT | ||
* Figures are from Statistics for Iron and Steel Industry in India, 2000