An iron alloy with a very low carbon content containing fibrous inclusions, known as slag. The fibrous structure gives a graining effect. Wrought iron is noted as being tough, malleable, ductile, and easily welded. Before the development of effective methods of steelmaking, wrought iron was the most common form of malleable iron. A modest amount of wrought iron was used as a raw material for the manufacturing of steel, which was mainly to produce swords, cutlery, and other blades. Demand for wrought iron reached its peak in the 1860s with the adaptation of ironclad warships and railways, but then declined as mild steel became more available. Wrought iron rusts less readily than other forms of metallic iron and used to be used for rivets, nails, wire, chains, railway couplings, water and steam pipes, nuts, bolts, horseshoes, handrails, straps for timber roof trusses, and ornamental ironwork. Wrought iron is no longer produced on a commercial scale.