This article, published in the most recent issue of the ASM-IMS journal Metallography, Microstructure, and Analysis, may be interested to members of this Community:
Verhoeven, J.D., Zowada, T. Comparison of Two Swords of Antiquity: The Japanese Sword and the Muslim Crucible Damascus Sword. Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal. 12, 934–943 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13632-023-01018-1
The following link will provide read-only access to this article for nonsubscribers: https://rdcu.be/dtVqa
Abstract
A review is presented of the steels used to produce perhaps the two most famous swords in history, the Japanese sword and the Muslim crucible Damascus sword. The review is based largely on the authors experience in producing blades of these materials, bloomery steel blades by T.Z., and crucible Damascus blades by J.V. and the late bladesmith Alfred Pendray. Brief summaries are presented of the history of when and how the swords were made, our modern understanding of their metallurgical microstructures, their chemical composition, relative strength, resistance to breakage (toughness) and ability to hold an edge. Both swords were superior to the more ancient swords they competed with. All were made from bloomery iron. A smelted bloom contains large amounts of slag inclusions and varying amounts of carbon. The slag inclusions reduced the toughness of the ancient steel and the non-uniform carbon composition of the bloom produced wide variations in strength. It is explained how these deficiencies were overcome in the production of both swords. Comparing the properties of the sword microstructures after processing them to shape, it is concluded that the Japanese sword was superior.
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Scott Henry
Senior Content Engineer
ASM International
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