On the use of neutron imaging methods to identify microstructural features in ancient Indian swords and armour

This is a continuation study that aims to investigate the structural features of arms and armour allegedly made of wootz, a form of pattered crucible steel first developed in ancient Southern India and already reported in the historical record around 300 BCE. Since artefacts made of wootz steel were highly priced for their superior mechanical and esthetical features, expedients to recreate the typical watered silk surface of wootz steel soon developed. In order to discern genuine from imitations, a non-invasive analytical approached based on neutron imaging methods was applied on a set of artefacts selected by the conservation department of the Wallace Collection. Polychromatic and monochromatic imaging methods were successfully applied to determine the structural properties of the samples related to the actual manufacturing process used to obtain the surface pattern.