Study of Metallurgy and Mechanical Property on Japanese Sword

Abstract:

Japanese sword has finer grain size and lath martensite in the microstructure of sharp edge amazingly. Nowadays these structures are considered to be one of the ideal structure at which are greatly aimed to strengthen or improve toughness of steels. Though the carbon content of its sharp edge is 0.70 mass %, there are no lenticular martensite and no micocracking in that area. As a result of bending test by actual sword specimen, one sword was finally bent, the other sword was broken. However it is found the sharp edge in Japanese sword has such a large bending strength 2500, 4600MPa respectively as modern, high performance tool steels and the difference of crack propagation under bending depends on the microstructure distribution and the grain size in cross section of Japanese sword.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 738-739)
• Pages: 222-227
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.738-739.222
• Online since: January 2013
• Authors: Muneo Yaso, Yoshihiro Minagi, Toshifumi Takaiwa, Kunichika Kubota, Tsuyoshi Kanaizumi, Takuya Ohba, Shigekazu Morito, Taisuke Hayashi
• Keywords: Bending Tests, Japanese Sword, Lath Martensite, Residual Stress, Strength, Toughness

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