1. Context

1.1 History

Iron is the basic material of the vast majority of civilizations. The presence of iron objects has been attested by archaeologists since the end of the 2nd millennium B.C., particularly in Anatolia. In ancient times, iron was produced by heating a mixture of ore and wood (or charcoal) in an air-fed furnace. Over the centuries, various technological variants emerged, leading to the flossofen (XIV ^e century), ancestor of the blast furnace. Subsequent evolutions up to the 18th century mainly concerned the development of blowing equipment and increases in size.

A major innovation came in the mid-18th century, when coke replaced charcoal, following experiments by Abraham Darby. This technology spread gradually...