Wrought iron is the purest iron with very low carbon content with respect to cast iron. It contains 99.5% iron but may contain upto 99.9% iron. The carbon content is about 0.02%.  It is soft, ductile, magnetic, and has high elasticity and tensile strength. It can be heated and reheated and worked into various shapes.

Although wrought iron exhibits properties that are not found in other forms of ferrous metal, it lacks the carbon content necessary for hardening through heat treatment. Wrought iron may be welded in the same manner as mild steel, but the presence of oxides or inclusions will provide defective results.