Wootz steel

Wootz [ vu ː ts ], also called Wootzkuchen or Wootzbarren, the output of steel for the Oriental Arab Damascus steel. Wootz is made of low alloy steel with a share of 1.5 % carbon and - among other things - traces of vanadium or molybdenum. These traces are later important for the formation of Zementitlinien in Damascus steel.

The iron ore for the Wootz was produced in India. The name " Wootz " is the English version of the term " ukku " that which the language of Karnataka ( Kannada ) and Andhra Pradesh ( Telugu ) comes and simply "Steel " means. The exact original method of Wootz melting is not known, material scientists, however, managed to make the Wootzkuchen using natural methods.

These high-purity iron, Sorel - iron, charcoal, broken glass, green leaves and other substances were heated in a crucible. It provides a complete mixing ratio of the starting materials iron, Sorel - iron and charcoal must be present. Of these later depends on the carbon content in the Wootz.

The glass floats on the melt and completes them airtight. This can not burn the carbon from the charcoal and diffuses into the iron. At the same time is prevented from reoxidation. Through the leaves carburization is accelerated. The success depends on the correct temperature and the correct melting time.

828840
de