Puddling

Puddling, a process for the conversion of cast-iron into wrought-iron. The cast-iron is first purified by a process known as refining, and is then heated strongly in a reverberatory furnace, the mass being thoroughly stirred until it reaches a, semi-pasty condition. During the process some oxide is formed upon the surface, which during the incorporation with the rest of the mass by stirring, oxidises some of the carbon of the cast-iron, producing oxides of carbon and purer iron. [Ikon.]