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Glite Dictionary
iron putty

iron putty

8.7
A thick paste of iron powder and oil used to fill and seal metal parts and resist acids
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪərn ˈpʌti/
  • Specialized
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  • Because of its resistance to acids, iron putty is often used in chemical processing equipment.

Examples

  • He applied a layer of iron putty to the pipe to prevent further leakage.

  • The mechanic sealed the crack in the engine block with iron putty for a quick repair.

  • We need some iron putty for the repair.

  • The iron putty sets quickly.

  • Because of its resistance to acids, iron putty is often used in chemical processing equipment.

  • He applied a layer of iron putty to the pipe to prevent further leakage.

  • The mechanic sealed the crack in the engine block with iron putty for a quick repair.

Synonyms

putty
vsiron putty
47 4.5

A soft paste used to fill gaps in wood or to hold window glass

is a cementlike ferric oxide and boiled linseed oil mixture for acid resistance

How Acid-Resistant

Teflon
  • Specialized
1 4.3
iron putty
  • Specialized
8.7
ceramic
34 3.7
glass
785 1.0
concrete
224 1.0
wood
613 1.0
paper
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

iron putty singular
iron putties plural

Morphology

iron + putty

The noun is a straightforward compound: 'iron' + 'putty' denotes a type of putty associated with or containing iron (iron oxide). A B1 learner who knows 'iron' and 'putty' will readily infer it is a specific kind of putty used for metal/repair purposes even if they do not know the precise chemical ingredients or technical properties.

Etymology

Iron putty comes from how the material looked and was used: craftsmen mixed iron powder like rust with boiled linseed oil to make a soft, paste-like putty that could be pressed into cracks. That's why iron putty now means a tough, 'acid-resistant' sealing paste used to fill and protect metal parts.