This post is an awesome collection of historical misconceptions that are really fun facts! This is actually a longer version of the The Tiffany Problem & Other Historical Misconceptions thread that you may have read. From Victorian nipple piercings, to Viking rap battles, to ancient Egypt’s credit cards, and more. Truth is stranger than fiction, and history is weirder than you think:
(via: Cheezburger)
India’s ancient “rust proof” iron is not unmatchable today, it just isn’t worth duplicating. The famous Iron Pillar of Delhi is a high-phosphorus wrought iron that forms weather-resistant phosphates on the surface, similar to 20th century “weathering” steels (e.g. Corten). The downside to the Iron Pillar’s composition is brittleness, low strength, and lack of general corrosion resistance – it works for Delhi’s environment but would be incapable of handling marine or industrial environments.
If you want good corrosion resistance in iron alloys, you add 12% or more chromium (and assorted other ingredients as required) to get stainless steels.