Carburization of iron in a pottery kiln

[richsc]

This looks interesting

http://experimentalarchaeology.org.uk/20...act-wrona/

[Robert]

It is, but it is not likely carburization would have taken place in a blacksmith fire anyway. A kiln would have been used, for only then do you get the sealed atmosphere high in free carbon needed for the proces. It is even likely that the proces was first noted in potterykilns or bakers ovens, where iron parts used inside the oven attained new properties and developed from there.