FASCINATING FACTS :
THE IRON PILLAR OF DELHI - A 1600-YEAR-OLD ENGINEERING MIRACLE
Author: Hridya08
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Via Wikimedia Commons
In our modern world, we're used to things that rust, break, or need replacing. But what if there was something that’s stood for centuries, through rain, wind, and scorching heat, without a single speck of rust?
Enter the Iron Pillar of Delhi. This 24-foot tall, 6-ton iron pillar stands at the entrance of the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi, India. It’s been there for nearly 1,600 years, and it hasn't rusted yet!
A Feat of Ancient Engineering
The Iron Pillar was built around 400 AD by King Kumaragupta of the Gupta dynasty. He built it to proclaim the valor of his father, Chandragupta II, and as a sacred flagstaff dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
To melt iron today, we need temperatures of around 1,600°C. But how did they do it 1,600 years ago? They used a method called forge welding. They would take iron ores, heat them to 1,000–1,200°C until they became soft, like butter, and then stack them and hammer them together to form the pillar.
The Secret of the Rust-Free Pillar
But here’s the real mystery: how has it stayed rust-free for so long? The answer lies in phosphorus.
When iron is forge-welded, the pieces bond instantly. But if it happens too quickly, the heat drops and the welding fails. To make the process easier, they added phosphorus to the iron.
Ironically, the very thing they added to make welding easier is what has protected the pillar from rust for centuries. When iron, water, and oxygen combine, rust forms. But because of the phosphorus, the iron reacts with water to form a protective layer called iron hydrogen phosphate. This layer blocks moisture from entering the metal, keeping it rust-free!
A Twist in the Tale
But wait, there’s more! This massive pillar wasn’t originally made in Delhi. It was first built and installed in Udayagiri. Later, when Kumaragupta's successors shifted their capital to Delhi, they transported the entire pillar with them.
So, our ancestors weren't just masters of metallurgy – they were experts in transportation too!
A Legacy of Innovation
In those days, India was one of the world's top iron exporters. Between the 3rd and 13th centuries, India had a strong iron trade with many countries, including Persia and Syria.
The Iron Pillar of Delhi is a testament to the advanced science and technology that existed in ancient India. So, the next time someone tells you that science and technology only developed in India after the British arrived, show them the Iron Pillar!
Grateful thanks to Google Gemini for its great help and support!🙏🙏🙏
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