Carbon nanotubes in Damascus steel

DaveA · 3rd March 2013, 06:31 PM

I just stumbled across this fascinating scientific report from 2006 regarding the discovery of carbon nano-tubes in Damascus steel blades. The article explains how this "modern" nano material may have contributed to these swords' legendary properties of strength and flexibility, and how the acid etching process, rather than being purely for decorative purposes, served to expose the nano fibers at the edge. This made the blade edge serrated at the nano scale for exceptional sharpness as well as durability.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...ch-swords.html

Sorry if this is too obscure, or old news, but it got me excited.

Best Regards,

David

Timo Nieminen · 3rd March 2013, 09:08 PM

"Nano" is the flavour of the decade, so the magic of nano is pushed, both in the media (good and bad, e.g., "grey goo") and research papers.

Without doubt, that there are carbon nanotubes in the steel matters - if the excess carbon isn't in nanotubes, it will end up in graphite sheets which will seriously weaken the steel ("why is cast iron so brittle?"). So, they explain the relative lack of bad effects of such a high carbon content. Whether they explain the good properties is another story.

DaveA · 4th March 2013, 01:02 AM

Unless we discover time travel, or an authoritative source, we will never know. I appreciate your carbon nano-tubes flavor-of-the-month comment. However, I do think it is a promising idea, if not only to help explain Damascus steel then to inspire metallurgy for new swords.

3rd March 2013, 06:31 PM	#1
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 432	Carbon nanotubes in Damascus steel I just stumbled across this fascinating scientific report from 2006 regarding the discovery of carbon nano-tubes in Damascus steel blades. The article explains how this "modern" nano material may have contributed to these swords' legendary properties of strength and flexibility, and how the acid etching process, rather than being purely for decorative purposes, served to expose the nano fibers at the edge. This made the blade edge serrated at the nano scale for exceptional sharpness as well as durability. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...ch-swords.html Sorry if this is too obscure, or old news, but it got me excited. Best Regards, David

4th March 2013, 01:02 AM	#3
DaveA Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 432	We will never know Unless we discover time travel, or an authoritative source, we will never know. I appreciate your carbon nano-tubes flavor-of-the-month comment. However, I do think it is a promising idea, if not only to help explain Damascus steel then to inspire metallurgy for new swords.

3rd March 2013, 09:08 PM	#2
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	"Nano" is the flavour of the decade, so the magic of nano is pushed, both in the media (good and bad, e.g., "grey goo") and research papers. Without doubt, that there are carbon nanotubes in the steel matters - if the excess carbon isn't in nanotubes, it will end up in graphite sheets which will seriously weaken the steel ("why is cast iron so brittle?"). So, they explain the relative lack of bad effects of such a high carbon content. Whether they explain the good properties is another story.