HISTORY OF METALLURGY
-57th National Metallurgist Day
As we live in a material world, a materials engineer improves the quality of our lives by studying, developing, designing and operating processes that transform raw materials into useful engineering products.
The forefront technology of the materials has become the foundation of modern society that created an industrial revolution. One cannot envision a life without electronics, transportation systems, buildings and machines as they have become a part of our daily lives.
Metallurgical engineers strive to meet the needs of modern society in all aspects. Metallurgists understand responsibility by proceeding environment-friendly way. Designing processes and products that minimize waste, maximize energy efficiency, increase performance and facilitate recycling.
Since the industrial revolution, Modern Metallurgy has seen exponential growth in ancient practices. The history of civilization is in many ways linked to the use of metals in antiquity. The process of metal extraction has shown an immense progression from using the native metal to easy smelting from ores to those which were difficult to smelt. The commonly used metals in antiquity Gold, silver, Zinc, Iron and steel. A brief review throws some light on the achievements of ancient Indian metallurgists. It is a matter of pride that the heritage has grown towards medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.
Gold and Silver:
Some of the early rich finds of gold and silver ornaments from the Indian subcontinent are discovered from Indus Valley Civilization such as Mohenjodaro in 3000 BC. These are on display in the Nation Museum, New Delhi.
India has a unique history that the deepest ancient gold-carbon mines of the world come from the Maski region of Karnataka dates from the mid-1st millennium BC.
Zinc:
The earliest firm evidence to produce metallic zinc is from India. Zinc is one of the difficult metal to smelt since its volatility is around the same temperature as smelting that is 1000°C. However, in India, a unique semi-industrial method has been discovered in the Zawar area of Rajasthan. The Rasaratnakara, a text by great Indian scientist Nagarjuna of the early Christian era described this process of downward distillation of Zinc vapor formed from smelting the Zinc ore.
Another remarkable innovation by Indian metalworkers was the use of Zinc in making Bidri ware, an inlaid Zinc alloy which came in to being under the Muslim rulers of Bidar in the Hyderabad region in 14th century AD.
Iron:
Wrought Iron forging was developed in India in the 1st millennium AD. The earliest large forging in the famous Iron Pillar in New Delhi dated during the Gupta period of 3rd century AD. It was 7 meters high and weighed 6 tons. It was made by forging together a series of disc-shaped iron blooms. The other astounding feature of the Iron Pillar is the absence of corrosion due to its composition, purity, phosphorus content and distribution of slag.
The first place to make use of cast iron was in architecture by the famous Mysore Palace in Mysore near Bangalore built by the Wodeyars.
India has always been well respected due to its iron and steel since Greek and Roman times. Findings of high-carbon steels were reported from the Christian era. Accounts suggested that steels from South India were exported to Europe, China, and the Middle Eastern countries. In the 12th century, the Arabs said that:
Hindus excel in the manufacture of Iron and it is impossible to find anything to surpass the edge from Indian steel
