Forging of Copper and Iron Plates by the Damascus Technique

Abstract:

Forging of different steel grades is called Damascus technique and results in a layered composite material termed “Damascus steel”, but forging of different copper alloys is termed “mokume gane”. In this paper the joining of copper and iron plates by forging is described. Metallographic investigations showed well bonded interfaces of copper and iron. A very small diffusion zone was observed. To study the diffusion between copper and iron two heat treatments were performed in Ar atmosphere. After 30 minutes at 1000 °C a marginal Cu-Fe interaction took place. Above the melting point of Cu at 1100 °C an intense Cu-Fe interaction was observed, which significantly changes the interface of both metals. Cu penetrated Fe along the grain boundaries and Fe droplets were formed sporadically. This correlates with the typical morphologies of liquid metal embrittlement (LME). Moreover, Fe is dissolved in Cu at 1100 °C and after cooling fine Fe precipitates in the Cu phase were detected.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 809)
• Pages: 253-258
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.809.253
• Online since: June 2019
• Authors: Susanne Strobl, Wolfgang Scheiblechner, Roland Haubner*
• Keywords: Damascus Technique, Liquid Metal Embrittlement (LME), Metallography

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