Thread: Wootz razor in progress

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I always assumed wootz was a tight grained Damascus? Maybe explain to us what it really is Bruno.

Looks like I was a minute slow.

What we call Damascus these days is in fact pattern welded steel. Different sorts of steel hammered together, and then folded, twisted, and otherwise manipulated several times to create all sorts of patterns. This can create some stunning visuals, but mechanically, it is just like monosteel in terms of cutting. The name Damascus is technically incorrect, but has become so widespread that we might as well accept it, and call the original kind by its other name 'wootz'.

Now, wootz can also be manipulated to make the carbides run in patterns. The ladder pattern used to be traditional for example. Since the carbides run a certain direction after drawing out the ingot into a bar, it can be manipulated. That doesn't define wootz however. The difference between anything else and wootz is the internal dendritic structure.

Btw I should add that any hypereutectoid steel (Steel with a very high carbon content) will grow carbides. However, modern steel mills attempt to make it as fine and invisible as possible. Crucible made wootz however depends on a mix of specific alloying elements and thermal process to make this structure bold and macroscopic.