The Unbroken Code: Part 2: The Delhi Iron Pillar and the Chemistry of Rust-Proof Iron
1,600 Years rust-free The Unbroken Code: Ancient Materials That Defy Time 1 The Unbroken Code: Ancient Materials That Defy Time - Part 1: Self-Healing Concrete and the Secret of Roman Immortality 2 The Unbroken Code: Part 2: The Delhi Iron Pillar and the Chemistry of Rust-Proof Iron 3 The Unbroken Code: Part 3: Stained Glass: Medieval Chemistry Turning Light into Narrative 4 The Unbroken Code: Part 4: Greek Fire: The Lost Chemical Weapon That Saved an Empire 5 The Unbroken Code: Part 5: The Baghdad Battery: Decoding the Electrochemical Riddle ← Series Home An Imperial Monument Defying Corrosion Rising over seven meters tall in Delhi stands a solid iron pillar, a monument forged during the glorious Gupta Empire around 400 CE. This pillar has been completely exposed to the harsh elements for over 1,600 years, yet astonishingly, it shows almost no sign of corrosion. While modern iron structures often rust and crumble in mere decades, this ancient monument remains smooth and remarkably intact, carrying an inscription that is still perfectly legible. The Delhi Iron Pillar is a tangible paradox: a permanent preservation achieved by ancient Indian metal workers centuries before modern material science defined the process of rust prevention. ...