Although the last two generations have seen an enormous amount of attention paid to advances in electronics, the fact remains that high-income, high-energy societies could thrive without microchips, etc., but, by contrast, could not exist without steel. Because of the importance of this material to comtemporary civilization, a comprehensive resource is needed for metallurgists, non-metallurgists, and anyone with a background in environmental studies, industry, manufacturing, and history, seeking a broader understanding of the history of iron and steel and its current and future impact on society. Given its coverage of the history of iron and steel from its genesis to slow pre-industrial progress, revolutionary advances during the 19th century, magnification of 19th century advances during the past five generations, patterns of modern steel production, the ubiquitous uses of the material, potential substitutions, advances in relative dematerialization, and appraisal of steel’s possible futures, Still the Iron Age: Iron and Steel in the Modern World by world-renowned author Vaclav Smil meets that need.

Feature

• Incorporates an interdisciplinary discussion of the history and evolution of the iron- and steel-making industry and its impact on the development of the modern world
• Serves as a valuable contribution because of its unique perspective that compares steel to technological advances in other materials, perceived to be important
• Discusses how we can manufacture smarter rather than deny demand
• Explores future opportunities and new efforts for sustainable development in the industry

Preface and Acknowledgments Previous Works by The Author Chapter 1. Iron and Steel Before the Eighteenth Century: Slow Adoption, Artisanal Production, and Scaling-Up Chapter 2. Rise of Modern Ferrous Metallurgy, 1700–1850: Coke, Blast Furnaces, and Expensive Steel Chapter 3. Iron and Steel Before WW I, 1850–1914: The Age of Affordable Steel Chapter 4. A Century of Advances, 1914–2014: Changing Leadership in Iron and Steel Industry Chapter 5. Modern Ironmaking and Steelmaking: Furnaces, Processes, and Casting Chapter 6. Materials in Modern Iron and Steel Production: Ores, Coke, Fluxes, Scrap, and Other Inputs Chapter 7. Energy Costs and Environmental Impacts of Iron and Steel Production: Fuels, Electricity, Atmospheric Emissions, and Waste Streams Chapter 8. Ubiquitous Uses of Steel: Sectoral Consumption and the Quest for Quality Chapter 9. Looking Back: Advances, Flows and Stocks Chapter 10. Looking Ahead: The Future of Iron and Steel Appendix A. Units and Their Multiples and Submultiples Appendix B. Some Basic Terms Appendix C. Global and National Production of Pig Iron and Steel, 1800–2015 Appendix D. Production of Crude Steel, 1900–2014 (All figures in Mt/year) References Index