Abstract
Ancient Chinese brass smelting technology has promoted the invention of zinc smelting, thus becoming an important part of the metallurgical history. However, the information concerning its origin and development is still controversial. In that regard, thorough analysis of composition and structure of the early brass is crucial for studying various stages of the ancient brass smelting technology history. This study aimed to investigate brass artifacts from Kunlun M2 tomb in Xi'an, Shaanxi, dating back during Sui to early Tang Dynasty (581–712 AD). The composition and metallographic characterization of the materials was performed using XRF, SEM–EDS and metallographic analysis. According to the results, brass was composed of 83 wt% of copper, 12 wt% of zinc, and 3 wt% of tin. Furthermore, its microstructure consisted of α-isometric single crystals with some slip lines and a few twinned grains. This indicated that brass was obtained by melting an appropriate mixture of zinc ores and copper ores at a temperature above 920 °C. Furthermore, brass support components were installed on the coronet after integral hot forging and partial cold shaping. Besides, the use of brass in the coronet was in conformity with the social hierarchy of that historical period, and also reflected the attention paid to the properties of materials.
Highlights
Copper and copper alloys as the earliest metals in human history have been of great significance to human civilization [1,2,3]
The discovery of brass Based on the rarity of cultural relics, the nondestructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method was first selected for their analysis
Brass artifacts dating back to the Sui-Tang-dynasty epoch were for the first time discovered in the Central Plains of China, which enabled one to advance the Chinese brass history to the sixth–eighth century AD
Summary
Copper and copper alloys as the earliest metals in human history have been of great significance to human civilization [1,2,3]. Copper and copper alloy smelting techniques have been widely emphasized as the evidence of the origin of human civilization [4, 5]. Ancient Chinese brass smelting technology has promoted the invention of zinc smelting, becoming an important part of the metallurgical history. Among all kinds of antique copper alloys, zinc-based brass is widely used in the modern materials. The origin and development stages of Chinese brass smelting are still controversial, which has aroused great interest of scientists [6]. In 45 BC, the copper– zinc alloys produced by calcining red copper were used
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