Abstract
It is shown that the excess carbide phase in Wootz is of an unusual nature origin that differs from the excess phase of secondary cementite, ledeburite and primary cementite in iron-carbon alloys. It is revealed that the morphological features of excess cementite in Wootz lie in the abnormal size of excess carbides having the shape of irregular prisms. It is discovered that the faceted angular carbides are formed within the original of metastable ledeburite, so they are called “eutectic carbides”. It was found that angular eutectic carbides in the Wootz formed during long isothermal soaking at the annealing and subsequent deformation of ledeburite structures. It is revealed that carbon takes up 2.25% in Wootz (in the region of white cast iron), while none in its structure of crushed ledeburite. It is shown that the pattern of carbide heterogeneity consists entirely of angular eutectic carbides having an irregular trigonal-prismatic morphology. It is shown that Wootz (Damascus steel) is non-alloy tool steel of ledeburite class, similar with structural characteristics of die steel of ledeburite class and high-speed steel, differing from them only in the nature of excess carbide phase.
Highlights
In the modern industry, we do not apply iron-carbon alloys with a carbon content of more than 2%
It was found that angular eutectic carbides in the Wootz formed during long isothermal soaking at the annealing and subsequent deformation of ledeburite structures
The microstructure of Wootz is a ferritic matrix with uniformly distributed in it a secondary cementite, having the right round or oval shape without distinct angles, a particle diameter of about 0.2, ∙∙∙, 0.6 μm and unevenly is distributed abnormally large carbides having an irregular trigonal-prismatic morphology with sizes ranging from 5 μm to 20 μm (Figure 2(b))
Summary
We do not apply iron-carbon alloys with a carbon content of more than 2%. It is believed that these alloys have low ductility, shallow depth hardenability and low heat-resistant of cementite carbides. These alloys are susceptible to overheating and have a higher tendency to decarburization. On this basis, the production of quality of the tool from the iron-carbon alloys, which is the carbon content in the region of white cast iron, is impractical. The blades from Damascus steel were attributed to the unusual properties. Durability under multiple dynamic loads combined with high wear resistance of the cutting edge
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