title: An investigation of nitride precipitates in archaeological iron artefacts from Poland.
abstract: 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 gamma'-Fe(4)N, whereas the small one has been identified as alpha''-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.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kedzierski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stepiński
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zielińska-Lipiec
mesh_terms: D001106:Archaeology; D002048:Burial; D055700:Cremation; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D011044:Poland
chemical_list: D007501:Iron