Medieval metallurgy applied to construction. The gothic bars of Barcelona Cathedral
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/arq.arqt.2015.002Keywords:
Archaeometallurgy, Barcelona Cathedral, Bars, Catalan method, Medieval metallurgyAbstract
In the Barcelona Cathedral remain in use various contemporary bars of the original building. They are made with iron / steel and with decorative elements of copper alloy. Prior to the advances in quality and productivity innovations of the Catalan method of XVII century, it was considered of interest to identify the level of technological development applied by metallographic study. The analysis has consisted to obtain samples for observation in optical microscopy and SEM, micro durometer test and EDAX. Generically, the results show a suitable metal, with “soft iron” (hypoeutectoid steel) quality, a use of welding layers and high corrosion resistance. The ornaments are made from bronze and brass, and they are malleable enough to enable the artistic detail and show obvious signs of reused metal.
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