Processing, structure, and properties of a rolled, ultrahigh-carbon steel plate exhibiting a damask pattern

A plate of ultrahigh-carbon steel (UHCS) was processed by hot and warm roll ing, according to the Wadsworth-Sherby mechanism, to produce damask surface markings. The surface markings produced by this industrial processing meth od are similar to those of historical Damascus steels, which are also of hy pereutectoid composition. The microstructure of the UHCS with damask contai ns fine, spheroidized carbides and a discontinuous network of proeutectoid carbides along former-austenite grain boundaries, which give rise to a surf ace pattern visible with the unaided eye. Tensile tests at room temperature measured tensile strengths and ductilities, which depend on sample orienta tion relative to the rolling direction of the plate. Hot and warm rolling c auses a directional microstructure, giving rise to both an elongated, direc tional damask pattern and a directional dependence for strength and ductili ty. A maximum tensile ductility of 10.2% was measured at 45 degrees relativ e to the rolling direction. The plate material was subjected to heat treatm ents creating pearlitic and martensitic microstructures, which retain visib le damask patterns. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.