Structural Characterization of Ancient Japanese Swords from MAAS Using Neutron Strain Scanning Measurements

Structural Characterization of Ancient Japanese Swords from MAAS Using Neutron Strain Scanning Measurements

F. Salvemini, V. Luzin, F. Grazzi, S. Gatenby, M.J. Kim

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Abstract. The current paper presents a forensic study that aims to characterize non-invasively the laminated structure of a set of Samurai’s swords, part of the East Asian Collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) in Sydney, via strain scanning measurements. Neutron residual stress analyses were undertaken on samples of well-known origin, time period and authorship to create a reference database on the main lamination methods developed by Japanese swordsmiths. The benchmark data were cross-matched with results obtained from a mumei (no-signature) blade in order to attribute its manufacturing tradition based on qualitative and quantitative data rather than stylistic criteria. Maps of two stress components and d0-values in the transverse cross-section of each sword were determined as a result of the neutron diffraction experiment with sub-millimeter spatial resolution. Since these two material characteristics are induced by the manufacturing process, analysis and comparison of the results allows drawing conclusions about variability or similarity of the actual production techniques of the Japanese swords.

Keywords
Neutron Residual Stress, Non-Invasive Analysis, Archaeometallurgy, Japanese Sword

Published online 12/22/2016, 6 pages
Copyright © 2016 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: F. Salvemini, V. Luzin, F. Grazzi, S. Gatenby, M.J. Kim, ‘Structural Characterization of Ancient Japanese Swords from MAAS Using Neutron Strain Scanning Measurements’, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 2, pp 443-448, 2017

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21741/9781945291173-75

The article was published as article 75 of the book Residual Stresses 2016

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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