Shamsheer Non-destructive Test

Ian · 13th February 2015, 06:17 PM

Thanks Edster.

That is a very informative article.

I note that there is an earlier article by the same authors (Barzagli et al, 2013) in which they examined the characteristics of six tsubas. Here is the Abstract of that article.

In this work we present a systematic study of Japanese sword hand-guards (tsuba) carried out by means of non-invasive techniques using neutrons. Several tsuba from different periods, belonging to the Japanese Section of the Stibbert Museum, were analysed using an innovative approach to characterise the bulk of the samples, coupling two neutron techniques, namely Time of Flight Neutron Diffraction (ToF-ND) and Nuclear Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA). The measurements were carried out on the same instrument: the INES beam-line at the ISIS spallation pulsed neutron source (UK).

NRCA analysis allows identifying the elements present in the sample gauge volume, while neutron diffraction is exploited to quantify the phase distribution and other microstructural parameters of the metal specimen. The results show that all samples are made of high-quality metal, either steel or copper alloy, with noticeable changes in composition and working techniques, depending on the place and time of manufacturing.

These techniques look very promising non-invasive methods for examining the metallurgy of old swords. Unfortunately, they require state-of-the art technology and analysis that is not widely available at this time.

Ian.

Reference

Barzagli E, Grazzi F, CivitaF, Scherillo A, Pietropaolo A, Festa G, Zoppi M. Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing (2013) 113:1143–1150, DOI 10.1007/s00339-013-7832-y.

Edster · 13th February 2015, 10:26 PM

Ian,

Battara and Oliver thanks for your interest and support. Ian, thanks for the abstract. High tech non-destructive testing offers promise, but as you observe, it is not readily available. I wonder if we could recruit a university materials science lab to help with testing, maybe at Timonium one year.

My chief interest is the ID and dating of European vs native made kaskara. European makers marks are not always diagnostic since native smiths often replicate them. Forging skills would be more or less the same in both places since just a trip-wheel hammer wouldn't make a real qualitative difference. (Generally, machines require less technical skill than a master manual blade smith possess.) With the use of lorry spring steels for native made blades, I assume that native blades would be of more or less the same chemical composition since say 1920s. Also, I suspect that the forging and heat treating processes/techniques in Kassala, Sudan were the same in 1880s as they were in 1986 and probably today and in 1600 Sennar for that matter. I have some dated from the 20s and 80s and can't really tell the age difference by blade appearance and bending quality alone. Some older ones seem better quality than some newer ones, but this is probably based on individual smith skills rather than anything else.

But what is the composition of various European factory-made trade blades? Probably a range of steels available commercially at any time or place. What is diagnostic?

We need a bigger data base and hopefully non-destructive testing can help us create one.

Regards,
Ed

13th February 2015, 06:17 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Thanks Edster. That is a very informative article. I note that there is an earlier article by the same authors (Barzagli et al, 2013) in which they examined the characteristics of six tsubas. Here is the Abstract of that article. In this work we present a systematic study of Japanese sword hand-guards (tsuba) carried out by means of non-invasive techniques using neutrons. Several tsuba from different periods, belonging to the Japanese Section of the Stibbert Museum, were analysed using an innovative approach to characterise the bulk of the samples, coupling two neutron techniques, namely Time of Flight Neutron Diffraction (ToF-ND) and Nuclear Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA). The measurements were carried out on the same instrument: the INES beam-line at the ISIS spallation pulsed neutron source (UK). NRCA analysis allows identifying the elements present in the sample gauge volume, while neutron diffraction is exploited to quantify the phase distribution and other microstructural parameters of the metal specimen. The results show that all samples are made of high-quality metal, either steel or copper alloy, with noticeable changes in composition and working techniques, depending on the place and time of manufacturing. These techniques look very promising non-invasive methods for examining the metallurgy of old swords. Unfortunately, they require state-of-the art technology and analysis that is not widely available at this time. Ian. Reference Barzagli E, Grazzi F, CivitaF, Scherillo A, Pietropaolo A, Festa G, Zoppi M. Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing (2013) 113:1143–1150, DOI 10.1007/s00339-013-7832-y. Last edited by Ian; 13th February 2015 at 06:48 PM.

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13th February 2015, 10:26 PM	#2
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 415	Ian, Battara and Oliver thanks for your interest and support. Ian, thanks for the abstract. High tech non-destructive testing offers promise, but as you observe, it is not readily available. I wonder if we could recruit a university materials science lab to help with testing, maybe at Timonium one year. My chief interest is the ID and dating of European vs native made kaskara. European makers marks are not always diagnostic since native smiths often replicate them. Forging skills would be more or less the same in both places since just a trip-wheel hammer wouldn't make a real qualitative difference. (Generally, machines require less technical skill than a master manual blade smith possess.) With the use of lorry spring steels for native made blades, I assume that native blades would be of more or less the same chemical composition since say 1920s. Also, I suspect that the forging and heat treating processes/techniques in Kassala, Sudan were the same in 1880s as they were in 1986 and probably today and in 1600 Sennar for that matter. I have some dated from the 20s and 80s and can't really tell the age difference by blade appearance and bending quality alone. Some older ones seem better quality than some newer ones, but this is probably based on individual smith skills rather than anything else. But what is the composition of various European factory-made trade blades? Probably a range of steels available commercially at any time or place. What is diagnostic? We need a bigger data base and hopefully non-destructive testing can help us create one. Regards, Ed