A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process

Pali Kpelou; Gnande Djeteli; Ayi Djifa Hounsi; Hans Peter Hahn; Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki; Kossi Napo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process

Pali Kpelou, Gnande Djeteli, Ayi Djifa Hounsi, Hans Peter Hahn, Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, Kossi Napo

Published in International Journal of Materials Science and Applications (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 4 September 2014 Accepted: 23 September 2014 Published: 30 September 2014

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Abstract

This paper presents an ancient traditional steel-making process of Bandjeli, in the Bassar Region in the Republic of Togo (West Africa). The iron specialists of Bandjeli have owned technical knowledge to cast direct reduced iron (DRI) likely direct reduced steel (DRS). This know-how was transferred to each generation over many centuries. The description of this steel-making process is focused on the steps that lead to the iron ingot: the construction of the furnace, the raw materials collection and their preparation, the furnace filling and the smelting operation. Microstructures of as-smelted and thermo-mechanical treated samples as well as hardness data are presented. Optical and SEM micrographs indicate a Widmannstätten structure type, comprising of a plates or needles of ferrite or alpha iron (Feα) in light contrast and grains of pearlite (dark contrast). Micro-hardness measurements indicate values ranging from 100 to 700 Hv, this field covers the micro-hardness values of the ferrite and pearlite. Microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-obtained product suggest direct steel processing from Bandjeli’s natural draught furnace. These results are necessary for further investigations on the as-smelted steel and on the contribution of this traditional smelting technology to the iron industry.

Published in	International Journal of Materials Science and Applications (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
Page(s)	217-225
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Traditional Steel-Making Process, Natural Draught Furnace, Direct Reduced Steel, Microstructure, Hardness

References

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APA Style

Pali Kpelou, Gnande Djeteli, Ayi Djifa Hounsi, Hans Peter Hahn, Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, et al. (2014). A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process. International Journal of Materials Science and Applications, 3(5), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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ACS Style

Pali Kpelou; Gnande Djeteli; Ayi Djifa Hounsi; Hans Peter Hahn; Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, et al. A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process. Int. J. Mater. Sci. Appl. 2014, 3(5), 217-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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AMA Style

Pali Kpelou, Gnande Djeteli, Ayi Djifa Hounsi, Hans Peter Hahn, Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, et al. A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process. Int J Mater Sci Appl. 2014;3(5):217-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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@article{10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23,
  author = {Pali Kpelou and Gnande Djeteli and Ayi Djifa Hounsi and Hans Peter Hahn and Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki and Kossi Napo},
  title = {A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process},
  journal = {International Journal of Materials Science and Applications},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {217-225},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmsa.20140305.23},
  abstract = {This paper presents an ancient traditional steel-making process of Bandjeli, in the Bassar Region in the Republic of Togo (West Africa). The iron specialists of Bandjeli have owned technical knowledge to cast direct reduced iron (DRI) likely direct reduced steel (DRS). This know-how was transferred to each generation over many centuries. The description of this steel-making process is focused on the steps that lead to the iron ingot: the construction of the furnace, the raw materials collection and their preparation, the furnace filling and the smelting operation. Microstructures of as-smelted and thermo-mechanical treated samples as well as hardness data are presented. Optical and SEM micrographs indicate a Widmannstätten structure type, comprising of a plates or needles of ferrite or alpha iron (Feα) in light contrast and grains of pearlite (dark contrast). Micro-hardness measurements indicate values ranging from 100 to 700 Hv, this field covers the micro-hardness values of the ferrite and pearlite. Microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-obtained product suggest direct steel processing from Bandjeli’s natural draught furnace. These results are necessary for further investigations on the as-smelted steel and on the contribution of this traditional smelting technology to the iron industry.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process
AU  - Pali Kpelou
AU  - Gnande Djeteli
AU  - Ayi Djifa Hounsi
AU  - Hans Peter Hahn
AU  - Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki
AU  - Kossi Napo
Y1  - 2014/09/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
T2  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
JF  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
JO  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
SP  - 217
EP  - 225
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-2643
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
AB  - This paper presents an ancient traditional steel-making process of Bandjeli, in the Bassar Region in the Republic of Togo (West Africa). The iron specialists of Bandjeli have owned technical knowledge to cast direct reduced iron (DRI) likely direct reduced steel (DRS). This know-how was transferred to each generation over many centuries. The description of this steel-making process is focused on the steps that lead to the iron ingot: the construction of the furnace, the raw materials collection and their preparation, the furnace filling and the smelting operation. Microstructures of as-smelted and thermo-mechanical treated samples as well as hardness data are presented. Optical and SEM micrographs indicate a Widmannstätten structure type, comprising of a plates or needles of ferrite or alpha iron (Feα) in light contrast and grains of pearlite (dark contrast). Micro-hardness measurements indicate values ranging from 100 to 700 Hv, this field covers the micro-hardness values of the ferrite and pearlite. Microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-obtained product suggest direct steel processing from Bandjeli’s natural draught furnace. These results are necessary for further investigations on the as-smelted steel and on the contribution of this traditional smelting technology to the iron industry.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Pali Kpelou

Departement of Physics, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
Gnande Djeteli

Departement of Physics, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
Ayi Djifa Hounsi

Departement of Physics, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
Hans Peter Hahn

Institut für Ethnologie / Campus Westend, Universit?t Frankfurt, Grüneburgplatz 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki

GMS-LPCS UMR7045 / Chimie Paristech Paris Cedex 05, France
Kossi Napo

Departement of Physics, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo; Palais de la découverte / Universcience, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 75008 Paris, France

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APA Style

Pali Kpelou, Gnande Djeteli, Ayi Djifa Hounsi, Hans Peter Hahn, Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, et al. (2014). A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process. International Journal of Materials Science and Applications, 3(5), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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ACS Style

Pali Kpelou; Gnande Djeteli; Ayi Djifa Hounsi; Hans Peter Hahn; Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, et al. A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process. Int. J. Mater. Sci. Appl. 2014, 3(5), 217-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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AMA Style

Pali Kpelou, Gnande Djeteli, Ayi Djifa Hounsi, Hans Peter Hahn, Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki, et al. A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process. Int J Mater Sci Appl. 2014;3(5):217-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23

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@article{10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23,
  author = {Pali Kpelou and Gnande Djeteli and Ayi Djifa Hounsi and Hans Peter Hahn and Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki and Kossi Napo},
  title = {A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process},
  journal = {International Journal of Materials Science and Applications},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {217-225},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmsa.20140305.23},
  abstract = {This paper presents an ancient traditional steel-making process of Bandjeli, in the Bassar Region in the Republic of Togo (West Africa). The iron specialists of Bandjeli have owned technical knowledge to cast direct reduced iron (DRI) likely direct reduced steel (DRS). This know-how was transferred to each generation over many centuries. The description of this steel-making process is focused on the steps that lead to the iron ingot: the construction of the furnace, the raw materials collection and their preparation, the furnace filling and the smelting operation. Microstructures of as-smelted and thermo-mechanical treated samples as well as hardness data are presented. Optical and SEM micrographs indicate a Widmannstätten structure type, comprising of a plates or needles of ferrite or alpha iron (Feα) in light contrast and grains of pearlite (dark contrast). Micro-hardness measurements indicate values ranging from 100 to 700 Hv, this field covers the micro-hardness values of the ferrite and pearlite. Microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-obtained product suggest direct steel processing from Bandjeli’s natural draught furnace. These results are necessary for further investigations on the as-smelted steel and on the contribution of this traditional smelting technology to the iron industry.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Reproduction of the Ancient Bandjeli’s Steel-Making Process
AU  - Pali Kpelou
AU  - Gnande Djeteli
AU  - Ayi Djifa Hounsi
AU  - Hans Peter Hahn
AU  - Tiburce Ahouangbe Aboki
AU  - Kossi Napo
Y1  - 2014/09/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
T2  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
JF  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
JO  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
SP  - 217
EP  - 225
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-2643
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140305.23
AB  - This paper presents an ancient traditional steel-making process of Bandjeli, in the Bassar Region in the Republic of Togo (West Africa). The iron specialists of Bandjeli have owned technical knowledge to cast direct reduced iron (DRI) likely direct reduced steel (DRS). This know-how was transferred to each generation over many centuries. The description of this steel-making process is focused on the steps that lead to the iron ingot: the construction of the furnace, the raw materials collection and their preparation, the furnace filling and the smelting operation. Microstructures of as-smelted and thermo-mechanical treated samples as well as hardness data are presented. Optical and SEM micrographs indicate a Widmannstätten structure type, comprising of a plates or needles of ferrite or alpha iron (Feα) in light contrast and grains of pearlite (dark contrast). Micro-hardness measurements indicate values ranging from 100 to 700 Hv, this field covers the micro-hardness values of the ferrite and pearlite. Microstructural and mechanical properties of the as-obtained product suggest direct steel processing from Bandjeli’s natural draught furnace. These results are necessary for further investigations on the as-smelted steel and on the contribution of this traditional smelting technology to the iron industry.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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