Conventional Hammering of a Fe-7.2%Ni Alloy Sample from Itutinga Meteorite: An Evaluation of Its Formability and Functionality

Abstract

Using a mechanical forming process used in the beginning of metallurgy, the samples from the iron meteorite Itutinga were heated and plastically deformed by hammering. Two sharp pieces, similar to small arrowheads, were produced and characterized microstructurally by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS/EBSD), complemented with Vickers hardness. As expected, the observations pointed to the presence of α2 phase, cracks, oxidation and deformed taenite lamellae. To assess the performance of the arrowheads a penetration test was done on a leather sample. The results demonstrated the possibility of making a useful rudimentary arrowhead from of iron meteorite.