Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c20.s3.t3.10

v1.c20.s3.t3.10

Electron micrograph obtained at a magnification of 100 X clearly represents the tempered martensitic structure of the sample. Microhardness measurement showed a value of VHN 391 in the ferritic region, and 549 in the martensitic region. It is evident that the smiths of Pāṇḍu Rājār Dhibi, during third century BC, knew how to forge an iron sample at high temperature to exclude slag particles, how to carburize at red heat, then quench (quickly cool possibly in water), and then finally temper or reheat it to an intermediate temperature.