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An investigation of nitride precipitates in archaeological iron artefacts from Poland
Author(s) -
KĘDZIERSKI Z.,
STĘPIŃSKI J.,
ZIELIŃSKALIPIEC A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03241.x
Subject(s) - nitride , scanning electron microscope , materials science , precipitation , optical microscope , transmission electron microscopy , sword , metallurgy , electron microscope , mineralogy , chemistry , composite material , nanotechnology , geography , optics , physics , layer (electronics) , meteorology , computer science , operating system
Summary The paper describes the investigations of nitride precipitates in a spearhead and a sword found in the territory of Poland, in cremation graveyards of the Przeworsk Culture, dated to the Roman Period. Three different techniques of the examination of nitride precipitates were employed: optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer) and transmission electron microscope. Two types of precipitates have been observed, and their plate‐like shape was demonstrated. The large precipitate has been confirmed to be γ′‐Fe 4 N, whereas the small one has been identified as α″‐Fe 16 N 2 . The origin of nitride precipitates in archaeological iron artefacts from Poland is probably a result of the manufacturing process or cremation as part of burial rites. An examination of available iron artefacts indicates that nitride precipitates (have only limited effect on mechanical properties) influence the hardness of metal only to a very limited degree.