IIT team solves the pillar mystery (original) (raw)
KANPUR: The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), is all set to bring about a revolution in the construction industry through the phosphoric iron, developed by its faculty member.
A professor at the Department of Materials and Metallurgical engineering, R Balasubramaniam and his students have developed a novel phosphorus containing iron which would be corrosion resistant and long lasting.
For centuries, people have been using carbon containing iron (steels) and not much attention was paid to the Iron phosphorus alloy system, which was utilised during the Ashoka period (4th century BC) in the construction of the historical iron pillar, presently installed at the Qutub Minar.
Balasubramaniam and his students researched on phosphoric iron pillar and found the pillar ductile and corrosion resistant in atmospheric and concrete environment.
The Times of India, in its April 24, 2004, edition had first carried the news, ''History comes to aid of chemistry in beating rust,'' when the IIT team began its research.
Balasubramaniam told TOI on Monday that corrosion resistance was a primary requirement of iron bars used in the construction industry.
He said that people have been practising several corrosion mitigation methods, including epoxy (polymer) coating on iron bars, adding inhibitors to concrete mix and cathodic protection measures. "All these measures might postpone the corrosion, but cannot prevent it permanently," he added.
He also said that the best way to beat corrosion, was to develop a material which itself produced corrosion resistant surface film. Warning against the deadly effect of chloride on the surface of steel bars, he said that chloride which deposited on normal iron through moisture or other means, accelerated corrosion attack, ultimately leading to severe cracks on the structure.
He further said that laboratory experiments have revealed the superior resistance power of phosphoric iron as compared to normal iron during attack by chloride ions.
A professor at the Department of Materials and Metallurgical engineering, R Balasubramaniam and his students have developed a novel phosphorus containing iron which would be corrosion resistant and long lasting.
For centuries, people have been using carbon containing iron (steels) and not much attention was paid to the Iron phosphorus alloy system, which was utilised during the Ashoka period (4th century BC) in the construction of the historical iron pillar, presently installed at the Qutub Minar.
Balasubramaniam and his students researched on phosphoric iron pillar and found the pillar ductile and corrosion resistant in atmospheric and concrete environment.
The Times of India, in its April 24, 2004, edition had first carried the news, ''History comes to aid of chemistry in beating rust,'' when the IIT team began its research.
Balasubramaniam told TOI on Monday that corrosion resistance was a primary requirement of iron bars used in the construction industry.
He said that people have been practising several corrosion mitigation methods, including epoxy (polymer) coating on iron bars, adding inhibitors to concrete mix and cathodic protection measures. "All these measures might postpone the corrosion, but cannot prevent it permanently," he added.
He also said that the best way to beat corrosion, was to develop a material which itself produced corrosion resistant surface film. Warning against the deadly effect of chloride on the surface of steel bars, he said that chloride which deposited on normal iron through moisture or other means, accelerated corrosion attack, ultimately leading to severe cracks on the structure.
He further said that laboratory experiments have revealed the superior resistance power of phosphoric iron as compared to normal iron during attack by chloride ions.