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An Archaeometallurgical Investigation of a Steel Sword from the Safavid Dynasty

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Abstract

In this study, a steel sword belonging to the Safavid dynasty was investigated to identify its chemistry, microstructure, mechanical properties, and processing. To this aim, chemical and phase analyses, optical microscopy investigations and a hardness test were conducted. The results indicated that the sword blade material was plain carbon steel containing 1.42 wt.% C. The microstructure consisted of spheroidal cementite particles in a ferrite matrix, facilitating the formation of a curved sword. It seemed that a combination of heat treatment and metal-forming techniques (thermo-mechanical process) was utilized to obtain this microstructure.

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Acknowledgements

Ghasem Dini is grateful to all the respected employees of the Afif-Abad Museum in Shiraz, especially Mr. Sadati and Mr. Rezaei who made a worthy contribution to provide the proper specimen for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nanotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran

    Ghasem Dini

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  1. Ghasem Dini
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Correspondence to Ghasem Dini.

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Dini, G. An Archaeometallurgical Investigation of a Steel Sword from the Safavid Dynasty. JOM 70, 243–247 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-017-2696-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-017-2696-9

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