Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c19.s5.t3.15

v1.c19.s5.t3.15

Metallurgical examination of the four samples gave some very interesting results. Sample No. 1 was clearly a sample of wrought iron showing no pearlite formation but containing multiple slag inclusions throughout the body. The other samples showed apart from slag inclusions, lamellar and spherodized pearlite in zones near the surface and ferrite in other areas. From this examination it appears that these objects were first made of wrought iron and later on were carburized by some technique whereby the surface or the zone nearest to the surface turned into carbide. This happens when the iron object is kept on charcoal bed for a long time at high temperature. For sample 1, either it did not pass through this process or else the surface has by now completely corroded. (Gaur 1983: 487-89; 495-96)