The Effects of Chemical Treatment in the Traditional Creation of Peninsular Keris Blade

• Main Author: Mohd Norshahril Jailani, Mohd Norshahril
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Petronas 2010
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/1204/1/Mohd_Norshahril_Jailani.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/1204/

The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of traditional chemical treatment used towards the properties of the keris blade, which are the strength, surface properties and chemical elements. According to Gardner (1936), the chemical treatments used are salt solution (Sodium Chloride), Sulphur powder, rice water and limejuice. The experiment is scoped for the chemical analysis towards the keris sample, not including the built of the keris or elemental distribution of the material. The keris sample had undergone chemical treatment in sequence, and at each stages of the treatment, the chemical analysis is performed, which are the Rockwell HRC Hardness Test, X-Ray Diffractometry Test (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive X-ray Test (FESEM/EDX), and Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy Test (FTIR). Each analysis will determine different properties of the sample and data comparison can be made. The strength of the keris blade reduced after 2 stages of chemical treatment, but increased back after completion. Rust formation occurred in all four stages, while ferrous sulfide or Pyrite formed in stage 2. Stage 4 has the least corrosion due to acidic reaction and antioxidant properties of limejuice and creation of metal coating on surface. The removal of metal oxides had deteriorated the surface structure. In conclusion, the traditional chemical treatments used are proven scientifically using the latest methods of chemical analysis.