National Geographics Article on Damascus Steel

[ALEX]

Just came across this. Published in 2006, and a good read...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061116-nanotech-swords.html

[Jens Nordlunde]

Thank you Alex, it is an interesting article. Several of the members have made these blades, and if not, they most certeanly looks very much like the old Indian blades, and as some of the blades made by members are made from old ingots they must be like the old blades - unless something went wronge diring the forging process.

Jens

[Jeff Pringle]

If you liked reading that, the articles it is based on are also out there in google-land, :) the nano-wire here;
A. A. Levin et al.: Microstructure of a genuine Damascus saber (2005) (http://www.crystalresearch.com/crt/ab40/905_a.pdf)

…and the nanotube here:
Carbon nanotubes in an ancient Damascus saber NATURE|Vol 444|16 November 2006 (http://dmseg5.case.edu/Classes/emse201/links/444286a.pdf)


The blade they are studying is one that has previously been looked at, and an image of the blade is included in this article:
J.D. Verhoeven, A.H. Pendray, and W.E. Dauksch:
The Key Role of Impurities in Ancient Damascus Steel Blades (http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.html)

(#10 is the bottom one here, I believe: Fig. 2 (http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.fig.2.lg.gif ) )

…and a pdf of the original 1924 look at that blade, comparing it and other wootz swords to a solingen saber can be found here:
B. ZSCHOKKE Du damassé et des lames de damas (http://www.bce-tech.fr/common/pdf/zschokke.pdf)

:D