Question

Puddling process is used in the manufacture of:
A.Wrought iron
B.Pig iron
C.Steel
D.Cast iron

Answer 1

Hint: We have to know that puddling is a metallurgical process. By the process of puddling we can manufacture high grade iron in a furnace (or) crucible. It was one of the most significant processes of producing the first appreciable volumes of valuable and useful bar iron in absence of charcoal.

Complete step by step answer:
We have to remember that the Puddling is a step in the development of high-grade iron in a furnace (or) crucible. It was found in Great Britain at the time of the Industrial Revolution. In a reverberatory furnace, the molten pig iron was stirred in an oxidizing environment leading to wrought iron.
Puddling was helpful in manufacturing structural-grade iron at a relatively low cost. It was a technique of decarburizing pig iron through slow oxidation, with iron ore as the source of oxygen, as the iron was manually stirred with a long rod. Puddling was carried out in a reverberatory furnace, permitting coal or coke to be used as fuel. The decarburized iron, containing melting point higher than cast iron, was collected into globs by the puddler. When the glob is highly sufficient, the puddler will remove it. The process of puddling was exhausting and extremely hot work. Few puddlers lived to age 40. The process continued until the late 19th century when steel displaced iron. As puddling required human skill in detecting the iron globs, it was at no time successfully mechanized.
We must remember that the puddling process is used in the manufacture of wrought iron. The hot air is blasted and stirred well. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and slag are removed. Refining of cast iron to give wrought iron is done by the process of puddling.
Therefore, the option (A) is correct.

Note: One should not get confused between wrought iron and pig iron. Pig iron on slow oxidation gives wrought iron. An intermediate product that is seen in the iron industry during steel production is pig iron. The carbon content in pig iron is very high whereas in wrought iron the carbon content is very low. Pig iron is also called crude iron.