Iron+&+Steel

Iron and steel are simmilar in cost, they’re both very strong in compression, but iron is weaker than steel in tension. Iron is very usefull because it molds to any shape and it is used to support bridges. Steel is one of the strongest materials used in construction, but it’s problem is that it rusts and loses streght in high temperatures, it is used as a support for bigger structures.

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“the old cast iron buildings died out. I'm not really sure whether the new skyscrapers killed them, or the new esthetics”

Iron and steel cover the same functions for construction, the use of iron appeared first and it was an innovative technique that at that time was being used on everything, because its a material that molds, its very strong and cheap, and it can be used to create almost anything. The use of steel appeared later, and it “killed” the use of cast iron for buildings because it covers the same functions but in much better ways and better techniques.