Iron in Ancient India c7.s2.3

c7.s2.3

Prof. Dutt's experiments are, however, not very conclusive. Fortunately we have before ourselves the experiments of Sir Robert Hadfield on the tensile strength of Ceylonese iron, which are quite conclusive. Sir Robert found that the breaking load in the case of the iron nail was 21 tons per square inch, the chisel 26 tons, and bill-hook as high as 29 tons per square inch, being higher than the figure for wrought iron. This no doubt is owing to the considerable percentage of phosphorus present, which stiffens or hardens iron.