IRON PILLAR
CAE STUDY
ON
IRON PILLAR
The pillar hasn't rusted for more than 1600 years.
No one really knows why
this happens, not even the
scientists.
All experts agree that what you see on the screen is the most accurate, literal
translation of the Sanskrit inscription.
" He, as if wearied, has abandoned this world, and
resorted in actual form to the other world – a
place won by the merit of his deeds – (and
although) he has departed, he remains on earth
through (the memory of his) fame (kirti)."
This inscription clearly mentions that the King who installed the
iron pillar, left to another world in actual form, which means he left physically
to another world. These words are completely ignored by modern day historians, because they
argue that all ancient civilizations were primitive, and could not posses advanced technology like
Other questions?
Which was the Where was it What materials
process used in build and why were used in
the fabrication? was it placed in iron pillar?
this location?
How d
id
they kn Why is
ow
about t the pillar
his
advanc resistant
ed
techno to
logy?
corrosion?
this is the ancient iron pillar of India. It
has many baffling features which have not
been explained till date. One of the
strangest features is that it has not rusted
for more than a thousand years, although
we can see some rusting in the recent
years. Archeologists confirm that this was
created at least 1600 years ago, but it could
be much older than that. An iron pillar
made such a long time ago should have
rusted and completely disintegrated. How
was such a pillar made, 1600 years ago, at
a time when Historians claim there was no
INTRODUCTION
The iron pillar of Delhi is a structure 23 feet 8 inches (7.2 metres)
high with 16 inches (40.64 cm) diameter that was constructed by
Chandragupta II (reigned c. 375-415 CE), It was made about1500
years ago and now stands in the Qutb complex at Mehrauli in Delhi,
India. It is famous for the rust-resistant composition of the metals
used in its construction. The pillar weighs over three metric tons
(1 ton = 1000kg) and is thought to have been erected elsewhere,
perhaps outside the Udayagiri Caves, and moved to its present
location early in the Delhi Sultanate.
By Mahendra
The height of the pillar, from the top to the bottom of its base, is 7.21
m (23 ft 8 in), 1.12 m (3 ft 8 in) of which is below ground. Its bell
pattern capital is 306 mm (12 in). It is estimated to weigh more than
three tones (6,614 lb). The pillar has attracted the attention of
archaeologists and materials scientists because of its high resistance to
corrosion and has been called a "testimony to the high level of skill
achieved by the ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and
processing of iron“ . The corrosion resistance results from an even
layer of crystalline iron(III) hydrogen phosphate hydrate forming on
the high-phosphorus-content iron, which serves to protect it from the
effects of the Delhi climate.
The pillar carries a number of inscriptions of different dates, some of
which have not been studied systematically despite the pillar's
prominent location and easy access.
By Navneet
MATERIAL
the components present in the wrought iron of the
pillar, besides iron, are 0.15% C, 0.05% Si, 0.05% Mn,
0.25% P, 0.005% Ni, 0.03% Cu and 0.02% N. In Iron
Pillar, Iron lumps(Produced by smelting iron ore in a
smelter, forge, campfire, or oven) of about 30kg in
weight were hammered together in hot state by a
process known as forge welding. The iron of the Pillar
was extracted by the traditional Direct reduction
method ( The iron produced from the direct reduction
processes can be utilized for several large-scale
applications . One important application is the
production of corrosion-resistant iron) and has been
deliberately kept high in phosphorous and low in
carbon, sulphur and Manganese.
By Manavjeet & Pooja verma
CHEMICAL PROCESS OR HOW
DID IRON PILLAR WAS MADE
Well, Rust initially contains iron
oxide/oxyhydroxides in their amorphous
forms. Due to the initial corrosion of metal,
there is more phosphorus at the metal “scale
interface than in the bulk of the metal.
Alternate environmental wetting and drying
cycles provide the moisture for phosphoric-
acid formation. Over time, the amorphous
phosphate is precipitated into its crystalline
form. The crystalline phosphate eventually
forms a continuous layer next to the metal,
which results in an excellent corrosion
resistance layer. By Manavjeet & Pooja verma
What is the effect??
The high phosphorus content and particular
repartition are essential catalysts in the
formation of a passive protective film of
Misawite (d-FeOOH), an amorphous iron
oxyhydroxide that forms a barrier by adhering
next to the interface between metal and rust.
Research reveals that Phosphoric irons would
offer excellent resistance to atmospheric
corrosion which would be corrosion resistant in
atmospheric exposure conditions. The Pillar is
resistant to corrosion due to the formation of a
thin protective passive film, aided by the By Manavjeet & Pooja verma
TYPE OF CORROSION INTERPRETED
The Delhi iron pillar is testimony to the high level of skill achieved by ancient
Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron. The iron pillar at Delhi
has attracted the attention of archaeologists and corrosion technologists as it has
withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years. The several theories which have been
proposed to explain its superior corrosion resistance can be broadly classified into
two categories:
•the environmental and
•the material theories.
The material of construction as the primary cause for the pillar's corrosion
resistance. The ideas proposed in this regard are the relatively pure composition of
the iron used, presence of Phosphorus (P) and absence of Sulphur/Magnesium in
the iron, its slag-enveloped metal grain structure, and passivity enhancement in
the presence of slag particles.
By Mangesh
Proponents of the environmental theories state that the
mild climate of Delhi is responsible for the corrosion
resistance of the Delhi iron pillar. It is known that the
relative humidity at Delhi does not exceed 70% for
significant periods of time in the year, which therefore
results in very mild corrosion of the pillar.
the corrosion resistance are also to be found in the
literature like the mass metal effect, initial exposure to
an alkaline and ammoniacal environment, residual
stresses resulting from the surface finishing operation,
freedom from sulphur contamination both in the metal
and in the air, and surface coatings provided to the
pillar after manufacture (barffing and slag coating) and
during use (coating with clarified butter).
By Mangesh
RUST ANALYSIS
The FTIR spectrum proved the presence of g-FeOOH, a-FeOOH and
d-FeOOH. The d-FeOOH was the major component of the rust as the
peak was of relatively larger height compared to the others. An
interesting result from the FTIR spectrum was that there was a distinct
signal from the phase FePO4.2H2O and the shoulder from this phase
was also identifiable. Therefore, the results of the FTIR study indicated
that the constituents of the scale were g, a and d-FeOOH, in addition to
a small amount of FePO4. In order to further understand the nature of
the rust, the Mössbauer spectrum obtained from the rust in the
transmission mode was analysed. The presence of g-FeOOH, a-
FeOOH and d-FeOOH in superparamagnetic form was confirmed. The
very fine particle size of these oxyhydroxides was also confirmed. The
presence of iron phosphate was also confirmed. Finally, the rust was
also composed of magnetite that was incorporated with some ions.
CONCLUSION
The pillar was manufactured by the forge welding of
pieces of wroughtiron. In a report published in the journal
Current Science, R. Balasubramaniam of the IIT Kanpur
explains how the pillar's resistance to corrosion is due to a
passive protective film at the iron-rust interface. The
presence of second-phase particles (slag and unreduced
iron oxides) in the microstructure of the iron, that of high
amounts of phosphorus in the metal, and the alternate
wetting and drying existing under atmospheric conditions
are the three main factors in the three-stage formation of
that protective passive film.
Lepidocrocite and goethite are the first amorphous iron
oxyhydroxides that appear upon oxidation of iron. High
corrosion rates are initially observed. Then, an essential
chemical reaction intervenes: slag and unreduced iron
oxides (second phase particles) in the iron microstructure By Navjyoti
The second-phase particles act as a cathode, and
the metal itself serves as an anode, for a mini-
galvanic corrosion reaction during environmental
exposure. But the iron pillar does something very
strange. When it comes in contact with moisture
or rain, it produces a strange material called
Misawite = y-FeOOH. which has not been seen
anywhere before. This material actually forms a
protective coating over the iron pillar and shields
it from damage, and also increases its magnetic
property. Part of the initial iron oxyhydroxides is
also transformed into magnetite, which somewhat
slows down the process of corrosion. The
ongoing reduction of lepidocrocite and the
By Navjyoti
diffusion of oxygen and complementary
REFERENCE
http://home.iitk.ac.in/~bala/journalpaper/jour
nal/journalpaper_34.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_pillar_of_
Delhi
https://web.archive.org/web/20040106152921/h
ttp://www.hindu.com/thehindu/seta/2002/09/12/
stories/2002091200090200.htm
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https
%3A%2F%2Ftheculturetrip.com%2Fasia
THANKS
For listening
