Heating Iron in Cold Water

185

01:30:29

If we use a lead-lined glass or porcelain vase, then we fill this container with an acidified cold water.  On the left, in the simulator we're showing a strong positive conductor able to heat the piece that were wanting to heat.  Holding iron to heat by using a pair of tongs with insulated handles into the water.   Our work piece has flexible negative conductor allowing us to manipulate the piece around in the now boiling motion water. 

A resistance forge and furnace like  electrolysis apparently heats quickly a piece of iron -  first to red and on to white heat so quickly that a portion of the iron that was not immersed in this liquid is just slightly warmed.

published 4 years ago

mlira

4 years ago

Biggest problem is water boils at 100 degrees celcius and won't heat above 100C (probably a bit higher if you're mixing stuff with it but not much). The iron won't start glowing until around 500C and the water will be constatly trying to cool it so it's pretty much impossible for anything submerged in water to get red hot.

mlira

4 years ago

Resistance heating can heat things up very quickly but doesn't use water. I've heard people drscribe electolysis as "boiling" water because of the bubbles, but it's actually splitting the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen (which are the bubbles you see) and it's normally nowhere near boiling temperature.

lmccoig

4 years ago

I found this listed in 1905 magazine as coming from Science and Art of Mining as listed source. That the great resistance of the metal is what causes the heat. To perhaps be the forge and furnace of the future.

mlira

4 years ago

Without seeing the article it's difficult to say I completely understand what you're saying, but I'm pretty sure it's never been used for industrial applications so probably safe to say it doesn't work. You can selectivly heat metals by running high currents through parts of them, but it has nothing to do with water.

lmccoig

4 years ago

Iron was used heavily then and may have differences than the steel alloys used today.

mlira

4 years ago

The stuff the used to call wrought iron is similar to what we call mild steel today

lmccoig

4 years ago

Adding carbon to iron to make steel is done today. Iron is softer than steel. I do not know of United States maker of wrought iron although local metal workers do decorative iron work.

mlira

4 years ago

Most stuff called "iron" isn't pure iron (e.g. wought iron, pig iron, cast iron). Steel's existed since the iron age and isn't new. Blacksmiths use low carbon or mild steel and not pure iron. Try and find someone who will sell you pure iron bars, I've never seen it for sale from any ofnour suppliers

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