| Abstract Scope |
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Material Advantage Chapter forged a modern recreation of a one-handed Irish Ring Pommel Sword. The blades, forged and ground from 5160 carbon steel, underwent quenching to achieve desired mechanical properties. The resulting structure and properties arising from this process were assessed using Vickers hardness testing and SEM imaging, both before and after quenching. The quenching process significantly increased hardness from 376 ± 23 MPa to 897 ± 22 MPa, a trend supported by Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) imaging that revealed high martensite content post-quenching. The unquenched material possessed grains around 10s of microns wide, while the quenched material exhibited grains ranging from below one micron to a few microns wide. These microstructures contribute to a sharp cutting edge with a resilient backbone, ensuring durability. This sword won second place in the TMS 2024 bladesmithing competition. |