• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2017

This study produced smelting slag through the reproduction of an ancient iron manufacturing technique, with the aim of facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the process by analyzing the slag components. The research suggests an interpretation method using the ratio of the subcomponents relative to the main slag components as an alternative to existing methods. We investigated the component source within the smelting furnace from which the slag is derived by developing an understanding of the tendency between slags. Based on bivariate graph and triangular coordinate data analysis, it was found that a slag can be categorized according to its components. The groups were identified as the ore slag group(centered on the ore), and the clay slag group(centered on clay and granite soil). This research determined that it is possible to estimate the components derived from the slag, depending on which group they belong to or resemble, as shown in Figure 4~7. It was found that a comprehensive understanding of the ratio between the components was more accurate than a simple analysis of the contents, for the interpretation of ancient iron manufacturing processes. This is based on the fact that a higher ratio of $TiO_2$ was detected by the components analysis, and an analysis of all the slag showed that the value of $CaO/SiO_2$ ratio was lower than 0.4, which corresponds to the reproduction experiment condition in which flux was not used.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2018

This study replicated traditional smelting methods to produce iron blooms from sand iron. The metallurgical properties of the slag and the iron blooms were analyzed. The sand iron materials used in the smelting experiments, which were based on ancient documents, were collected from Gyeong-Ju and Pohang. Analysis by WD-XRF and XRD showed that Gyeong-Ju's sand iron contains a high-titanium, with magnetite, and Pohang's sand iron contains a low-titanium, which magnetite and ilmenite were mixed. Analysis of the slag with XRD, and the micro-structure with metal microscopes and SEM-EDS, confirmed that the major compounds in the slag of the Gyeong-Ju's sand iron were fayalite and $w\ddot{u}stite$, and those in the slag of the Pohang's sand iron were titanomagnetite and fayalite. The differences in the main constituents were confirmed according to the Ti quantity. Finally, we observed the microstructures of the iron blooms. In the case of the iron bloom produced from Gyeong-Ju's sand iron, the outside was found to be dominantly a pearlite of eutectoid steel, while the inside was a hypo-eutectoid steel where ferrite and pearlite were mixed together. While, the major component of the iron bloom produced from Pohang's sand iron was ferrite, which is almost like pure iron. However, there were many impurities inside the iron blooms. Therefore, this experiment confirmed that making ironware required a process that involved removing internal impurities, refining, and welding. It will be an important data to identify the characteristics of iron by-products and the site through traditional iron-making experiments under various conditions.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.138-153
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• 2015

A Jincheon Seokjangri B23 furnace was reconstructed and iron smelting experiment was performed to investigate an ancient Baekjae iron production process. The work mainly described in this paper is the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ experiments among the several experiments carried out at Jungwon National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Iron ore(magnetite) and oak charcoal were used as a source and a foot bellow was used for air supply. Common results of the experiments are masses of iron, slag and charcoal formed in the furnace. Most iron lumps were formed nearby the tuyere rather than the area of tapping hole. Metallographic and chemical analysis shows that the iron lumps can be used for either forge or cast depending on their carbon content. Low Fe content and glassy texture of the inner slags suggest that the operation environment was quite reducing. Based on the results of the iron smelting experiments, measurements and analysis, various information was obtained regarding physical-chemical and metallurgical processes of the ancient iron smelting process. It is firmly believed that its undisclosed contents can be revealed more in depth with continual reconstitution experiments.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.3 no.1 s.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 1994

Chemical analysis and metallographic observations of the iron slag were carried out in an attempt to estimate the old iron-making process. The slag containing $9.3\%\;TiO_2$ without Cu indicates that the ore used for smelting was sand iron, not rock ore. The phases identified in the slag were $ulv\ddot{o}spinel$, magnetite, $w\ddot{u}stite$, fayalite etc. This also supports the fact that the smelted ore was iron sand. The total amount of Fe and slag-making components$(=SiO_2+Al_2O_3+MgO+CaO)$ were $40.7\%\;and\;36.1\%$, respectively. These values were average ones found in the old slags formed in the ancient iron-making process. Assuming that $TiO_2$ in the ore combines with FeO, resulting in the formation of $ulv\ddot{o}spinel$, the estimated temperature of smelting was found to be about $1200^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2013

This study focused on iron making related information through analyzing slags and furnace wall collected from iron production site of Suryong-ri Wonmorongi, Chungju. Total Fe content of slags were from 36.98% to 44.47% and this range was general recovery rate of iron in ancient. Compounds of calcium included slags was supposed to add intentionally during smelting process as deoxidation agent in order that these helped to separate iron from impurities. Furnace wall didn't make of high alumina clay because of low $Al_2O_3$. Microstructure and main components of slags show that No. 1 to 3 slags with fayalite and wustite were products of iron ore smelting. However, No.4 slag is more likely to smelt by iron sand because of ulvospinel with $TiO_2$ in No. 4 slag. Therefore, iron ore were not only used but iron sand in smelting and furnace wall made of general clay with low $Al_2O_3$ content in this area.

• Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.9-22
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• 2012

The most widely excavated iron artifacts used as weapons or farm tools from central southern regions of Korea were subjects of non-metallic inclusion analysis through metallographic examination, microhardness measurement, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Through metallographic interpretation and study of the analyzed results, the steel manufacturing and iron smelting using heat processing in the iron artifacts excavated from the central southern region of the ancient Korean peninsula was studied, and the analysis of the non-metallic inclusions mixed within the metallic structures was interpreted as the ternary phase diagram of the oxide to infer the type of iron ores for the iron products and the temperature of the furnace used to smelt them. Most of the ancient forged iron artifacts showed $Al_2O_3/SiO_2$ with high $SiO_2$ contents and relatively low $Al_2O_3$ contents for iron ore, indicating t hat for $Al_2O_3$ below 5%, it is presumed that magnetic iron ores were reduced to bloom iron (sponge iron) with direct-reduction process for production. The temperature for extraction of wustite for $Al_2O_3$ below 1% was found to be $1,020{\sim}1,050^{\circ}C$. Considering the oxide ternary constitutional diagram of glassy inclusions, the steel-manufacturing temperature was presumed to have been near $1,150{\sim}1,280^{\circ}C$ in most cases, and minimum melting temperature of casting iron part excavated in Daeseong-ri. Gyeonggi was near $1,400^{\circ}C$, and it is thought that hypoeutectic cast iron of about 2.3% carbon was casted and fragility of cast iron was improved by decarburizing in solid state.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.137-153
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• 2004

We have analyzed the ingredients of 17 pieces of Bronze Age bronze ware, and an additional 22 pieces of Koryo and Chosun dynasty bronze ware. We have also conducted analysis of the extraction sites where these bronze ware items were found. For analyzing the main ingredient the bronze ware items have been divided into 3 groups - Cu-Sn(70?75:20), Cu-Pb-Sn(70:10:10), Cu-Pb-Sn(60:10:20) type respectively. In tile cases of the Cu-Pb-Sn groups the division comes down to differences in the Cu content as the main component, and elements such as Ni, Fe, Co contribute as a micro ingredient. The geographical and periodic characteristics of ancient bronze ware items show that theircompositional element changes from Cu:Sn to Cu:Pb:Sn and the Cu content decreases with the period,while the Pb content increases with the period. Bronze ware items from Suchon Ri, Gongju (that were used in 3 B.C.) form very different categories from 3rd ${\~}$ 2nd B.C.. They additionally formed very different categories from those bronze ware items analyzed in this research. These bronze ware itemsare shown to be geographically close and periodically overlapped, but made of a new elemental composition. This shows an inflow of a production technical culture present in the new bronze wares. The main component content of Cu is lower, and the Co and Fe contents (as microelements) are much higher than that of other bronze ware items. Such facts showthat those bronze ware items used completely different materials from bronze ware items in other cultural areas, or that there were differences in smelting techniques In the places where ancient bronze ware items have been extracted, it is presumed that the materials originated from the southern parts of Korea andnorthern parts and southern parts of China. .As more bronze ware scientific research is compiled one can conclude that that there will be enough scientific evidence to study the Bronze Age culture of Koreasystematically.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2010

The slag excavated from Gyesil-ri in Gongju, Yeonje-ri in Cheongwon and Beopcheonsaji (temple) site in Wonju are analyzed by X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer, metallurgical microscope, SEM-EDS etc., for chemical composition and microstructure to figure out the raw material and the iron manufacturing technique. First of all, as a result of principal component analysis, the total Fe-content of slag from Gyesil-ri is 39 to 44% and the modified rate is 15 to 21%, which is common in ancient iron slag. Yeonje-ri site is found the ancient iron-smelting furnace. The total Fe-content of slag from Yeonje-ri is 41 to 43% and modified rate is 18~30%, which is also the general value in the ancient slag. However only slag is excavated in the residential area at Beopcheonsaji site and there is no iron making relic. In addition, the result of principal component analysis contains that the total Fe-content of Beopcheonsaji site is 52 to 57%, and modified rate is 8 to 14%. It shows that the total Fe-content of Beopcheonsaji site is higher than relic from Gyesil-ri and Yeonje-ri and the modified rate is lower than other sites. This results mean that recollecting rate of Fe in Beopcheonsaji site is lower than other sites. Also, as a result of minor elements analysis, the slag from Gyesil-ri has the higher level of Ti, V and Zr than other sites and the microstructure are observed as magnetite and ulvospinel, so that the raw material of slag is iron sand. But the slag from Yeonje-ri and Beopcheonsaji site are identified to use iron ore. As a result of microstructure observation, fayalite, gray-columnar crystal, is found in the slag from Yeonje-ri and big wustite as main phase is observed in the slag from Beopcheonsaji site. This study show that the slag from Yeonje-ri is made of smelt ash produced during smelting works and the slag from Beopcheonsaji site is made of forging ash produced during forging work concerning the excavated location and the microstructure.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.217-233
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• 2022

The remains found in Geumcheok-ri, Gyeongju are located in close proximity to the Ancient Tombs in Geumcheok-ri, Gyeongju (Historic Site) which were built between the late 5th and early 6th centuries, and these tombs are known to belong to the powerful rulers of that area. Using metallurgical techniques, this study was conducted on the iron objects obtained from the excavated remains in Geumcheok-ri, Gyeongju which are presumed to have a close relation to the nearby ruins that played an important role in the growth of Silla. To identify differences in manufacturing techniques based on the purpose of the iron objects, eight objects were selected after classifying them by use and the microstructure and non-metallic inclusions were investigated. The analyses results confirmed that the manufacturing process involved forging iron with a high or low carbon content to produce a particular shape, and that the carburization process was applied to iron post forging a shape to increase its strength when necessary. The mechanical properties were improved by selectively applying the steelmaking method and the heat treatment technique considering the functions of the parts, and the low temperature reduction was applied to the smelting process. Furthermore, in comparison with the iron objects excavated from the remains located in the center of Gyeongju and its outskirts, it is confirmed that there is similarity in the smelting and manufacturing techniques between these objects.