2. Iron properties

Table 1 shows the values of various physical properties of pure iron and mechanical properties of practically pure iron.

Examination of this material reveals that practically pure iron does not perform very well mechanically. Its strength characteristics (yield strength, tensile strength, hardness, toughness, etc.) are low, while its plasticity characteristics (elongation at break, as well as stricture, notched impact fracture energy, etc.) are very high. This is true of all pure metals; the metallurgist knows that he must harden them to give them mechanical properties of interest to manufacturers, and that he must simultaneously tolerate a concomitant drop in ductility.