Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s7.7

v1.c22.s7.7

The chief feature of the present specimens is the high carbon percentage, 1.23, in No. 5. The Brinell hardness and the microstructure of Nos. 1 and 2 also indicate they are of similar high carbon. We have never come across any ancient specimens as high as this before. The highest was 0.7 carbon in the Khambāba specimen (100 BC Besnagar broken sword, also 0.04 Si, 0.02 P, 0.02 Mn, 0.008 S, rest Fe), and this was so exceptional that we thought at the time it must be a fluke.