Damascus Steel Inlay on a Sword Blade - Production and Characterization

Using the Damascus technique and forging steel plates with different carbon concentrations results in a composite material with a layered structure and combines the properties of the individual materials. Detailed investigations on old Sax swords from the 8th century indicate that Damascus steels were also used for decoration by applying the inlay technique. For the replication of a Sax sword a steel blade was manufactured and the Damascus steel inlay was upset by forging. From a test sample a cross section was investigated by means of metallographic methods. Of high interest are the intersections between the Damascus steel inlay and the core of the blade. After metallographic preparation the various microstructures were characterized by light optical microscopy and Vicker ́s microhardness measurements were performed.