A question about blade materials

katana · 17th March 2006, 05:40 PM

My understanding of Wootz is this,

Wootz is a matrix of almost pure iron and iron carbide particles.
It is created like crucible steel in a sealed (airtight)crucible.
The trick to getting wootz instead of regular high carbon steel is in the
melting and cooling cycles. (very, very slowly)
As the metal cools at just the right rate it crystalizes into a dendritic
structure .
Wootz is considered far superior to any laminated steel , but is extremely difficult to produce predictably.
Wootz is characterized by the incluson of carbides in a more ot less concenrtic pattern that follows the shape of the crucible..This orientation is changed as the material is forged out.And will align itself in the direction of the forging.
A great deal of care must be taken that the material is not allowed to
overheat as the carbides will then be made homogenous within the iron.
The properties of a wootz blade are they are strong, and are able to keep a keen edge to the blade. Due to modern industrial processes, good quality steel is available that has similar structural qualities but does not have the beautiful and interesting patterns of wootz.

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17th March 2006, 05:40 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	My understanding of Wootz is this, Wootz is a matrix of almost pure iron and iron carbide particles. It is created like crucible steel in a sealed (airtight)crucible. The trick to getting wootz instead of regular high carbon steel is in the melting and cooling cycles. (very, very slowly) As the metal cools at just the right rate it crystalizes into a dendritic structure . Wootz is considered far superior to any laminated steel , but is extremely difficult to produce predictably. Wootz is characterized by the incluson of carbides in a more ot less concenrtic pattern that follows the shape of the crucible..This orientation is changed as the material is forged out.And will align itself in the direction of the forging. A great deal of care must be taken that the material is not allowed to overheat as the carbides will then be made homogenous within the iron. The properties of a wootz blade are they are strong, and are able to keep a keen edge to the blade. Due to modern industrial processes, good quality steel is available that has similar structural qualities but does not have the beautiful and interesting patterns of wootz.