EASTERN PHOSPHOROUS DAMASCUS STEEL

It is established that the ancient knife blade belonged to east group of damask steels of “kara-taban” type. Methods of spectral, x-ray phase and microprobe analysis showed that the damask steel knife is high-purity nonalloy high carbon steel with a high phosphorus content. Marking of phosphorous damask steel of the B15P type is developed. It is revealed that phosphorus, possessing high liquation coefficient, promotes the process of a segregation of carbon in the interdendritic intervals in the course of crystallization. In such intervals, quasiledeburite formations, which oblong into carbides in the process of forging, are formed. The elongated dendritic axis and the axle spacing form a set of parallel layers consisting of troostite and elongated carbides excess cementite in the longitudinal and cross-section area in the result of forging knife strip. The major physical and chemical factors influencing morphology of structurization of phosphorous damask steel of the B15P type are revealed. The interrelation between structure and the nature of destruction of an ancient damask knife at shock loading is established. The possible advantages and shortcomings at operation of cutleries from east phosphorous damaskus steel are shown.