This article goes on a metallographic analysis of iron plates and plowshares,which account for the majority of the ironware stashed in depots discovered in Mianchi,and the examination of non-metallic impurities in these items,systematically obtaining the spectrum of microscopic details of the samples extracted from 61 iron implements and 5 pieces of slag.It is found that the basic characteristics of mass production in annealing kilns are varied carbon content,carbon distribution and metallographic structure,and that low-carbon plowshares and pig iron plates,might be the products that the craftsmen of Mianchi aimed for.The complete process of plowshare making should involve casting and molding,annealing and cast iron decarburising,and grinding and sharpening.Meanwhile,this article summarizes the characteristics and formation mechanism of the cast iron unearthed from Mianchi Site and their non-metallic impurities after annealing,providing new clues for the identification of ironware and forged implements whose production used the same techniques in ancient China.
ironware stashed in depotscast iron and products made of decarburised cast ironprocess characteristicsnon-metallic impurities
万方数据
维普
