Crystallographic characterization on different types of structure (Tsukurikomi) of Japanese swords using pulsed neutron imaging and diffraction methods

Oikawa, Kenichi   ; Kiyanagi, Yoshiaki*; Shinohara, Takenao   ; Kai, Tetsuya   ; Watanabe, Kenichi*; Uritani, Akira*; Hori, Genki*; Hirata, Yuho*

The Japanese swords are very attractive not only as a work of art but also a metallurgical point of view. There are various kinds of the structure combining the Japanese swords materials. Non-destructive experiments such as pulsed neutron imaging and diffraction are powerful tools to study metallic cultural heritages due to their high penetrating power and capability to give crystallographic information. For the first trial of our study, three kinds of Japanese swords were made by a swordsmith. Pulsed neutron imaging and diffraction experiments were performed at RADEN and NOBORU at J-PARC, respectively. Each sword samples were cut in three parts to be measured simultaneously by using the 100100 mm area detector, nGEM. Neutron diffraction experiments were focused on specific parts of the swords to see the difference in combination of the steels. Detailed analysis results will be presented at the meeting.