Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c27.s3.5

v1.c27.s3.5

The study of the fractured surface of the Koṇārka beams clearly indicates that it was manufactured by forge-welding square rods of small sections. When a small piece of 8 inches square cross-section was hammered, instead of breaking off crosswise, the piece broke longitudinally and appeared to be laminated, being composed of two square pieces joined together. (Ghosh, 1963: 35) Jena and his associates have found traces of lead between two pieces forged together; it seems that a large lead bath might have been used for uniform heating of a bundle of wrought iron bars to the required temperature, before forging them together. (Prakash and Tripathi, 1986: 576) Some de-carburisation took place on the surface during forge-welding.