Damascus Steel-Part III; The Wadsworth-Sherby mechanism

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 UTC 1990 · Materials Characterization; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/1044-5803(90)90052-L· OSTI ID:6670585

Verhoeven, J D; Baker, H H; Peterson, D T ^[1]; Clark, H F ^[2]; Yater, W M ^[3]

---

1. Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames, IA (USA). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
2. Bladesmith Shop, Runnells, IA (US)
3. Blacksmith Shop, Boonsboro, MD (US)

Several blades have been forged from a Fe-1.6 wt% C alloy after heat treating to form austenite grain boundary allotriomorph (GBA) cementite (Cm). This is the Wadsworth--Sherby technique proposed as the mechanism for forming the pattern on Damascus blades. Both the forging temperature and the severity of metal flow during forging were systematically varied. The patterns obtained are compared to a genuine Damascus sword and shown to be macroscopically somewhat similar, but microscopically quite different. It is concluded that the Wadsworth--Sherby technique is probably not the technique used by ancient blacksmiths to produce the Damask pattern in their blades.

• OSTI ID: 6670585
• Journal Information: Materials Characterization; (USA), Journal Name: Materials Characterization; (USA) Vol. 24:3; ISSN 1044-5803; ISSN MACHE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200104 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Components
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
360102 -- Metals & Alloys-- Structure & Phase Studies
ALLOYS
AUSTENITIC STEELS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
FABRICATION
FORGING
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS WORKING
MICROSTRUCTURE
STEELS
TURBINE BLADES