What was the lorica segmentata made out of

[stevesarak]

Hi,

I was thinking about the lorica segmentata, when it dawned on me that nowadays each plate is made of steel, (I think), which makes it light, flexible and strong. But during the time of the Republic, the Iron Age, weren’t they made of iron. And if so, was each plate made out of a thick piece of iron, very ridged, with the entire lorica segmentata weighing a lot more then current models?

Or did they use a blend of metals to make it strong but lighter and flexible

Have any or any pieces of them survived, and if so, does anyone have a link to it.

Thanks for the help and any info.