[LT] Iron and Steel Armor

DanHoward · 12-13-2011, 03:25 AM

My point is that the terms "iron" and "steel" are arbitrary and have no sensible distinction. IMO it shouldn't be called steel unless it has a high enough carbon content to be hardened. Which means that cast iron should probably be called "cast steel" and some types of mild steel should really be referred to as "iron". It gets worse: what we call "wrought iron" today is actually 18-19th-century "puddled iron" and is pretty useless for weapons and armour. Medieval or smelted iron should really be called "bloomery iron" and has different mechanical properties. Every time the term "iron" or "steel" is used it just creates confusion. Same with the term "bronze". I've started just using the generic "ferrous alloys" and "copper alloys" when writing about these groups of metals.

12-13-2011, 03:25 AM	#5
DanHoward Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maitland, NSW, Australia	Re: [LT] Iron and Steel Armor My point is that the terms "iron" and "steel" are arbitrary and have no sensible distinction. IMO it shouldn't be called steel unless it has a high enough carbon content to be hardened. Which means that cast iron should probably be called "cast steel" and some types of mild steel should really be referred to as "iron". It gets worse: what we call "wrought iron" today is actually 18-19th-century "puddled iron" and is pretty useless for weapons and armour. Medieval or smelted iron should really be called "bloomery iron" and has different mechanical properties. Every time the term "iron" or "steel" is used it just creates confusion. Same with the term "bronze". I've started just using the generic "ferrous alloys" and "copper alloys" when writing about these groups of metals. Last edited by DanHoward; 12-13-2011 at 03:39 AM.