Two metals corrosion

[lyuv]

There is a know fenomenon of corossion developing where objects of DIFFERENT metals touch each other (I dont know the english term).

In my Gladius, as in many others, there is a small brass plate covering the front of the guard, touching the steel blade. And I cant stop the rust!

Anyone had this problem? Any suggestions?

In theory, I could enlarge the hole in the plate, so it will be JUST larger than the blade. But I cant believe the original swords where made with such accuracy. The military swordsmith probably just banged the plate into place.

[mcbishop]

There is a know fenomenon of corossion developing where objects of DIFFERENT metals touch each other (I dont know the english term).

Bimetallic corrosion – always a problem with lorica segmentata from the Roman period onwards (and Landrovers in more recent years).

In my Gladius, as in many others, there is a small brass plate covering the front of the guard, touching the steel blade. And I cant stop the rust!

Anyone had this problem? Any suggestions?

In theory, I could enlarge the hole in the plate, so it will be JUST larger than the blade. But I cant believe the original swords where made with such accuracy. The military swordsmith probably just banged the plate into place.

The only way of limiting it is keeping the junction between the two metals clean and dry. The Romans had no solution to it so you will just have to tolerate it, I'm afraid.

Mike Bishop

[Dan Howard]

The industry uses what's called a "sacrificial anode". You need a metal that is more reactive than iron, such as magnesium, to contact the blade. Then the magnesium corrodes instead of the iron.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_anode

[sulla felix]

Discard the plate completely - there is plenty of evidence to suggest that not all swords had this plate.