Chemistry Question! (I hope this isnt to off topic)

[Lima Kilo]

Hey ya'll. Sorry if this is off topic, but since I dont hanve the higher membership to post in shop talk I was hoping this was ok. For my chemistry paper I have a write 4 pages on a filed of chemistry, I was wondering if there was a more metalergic field that would be fun to write on. Thanks!

Logan K.

 

[mete]

You can't get to first base without spelling it correctly - metallurgy.

 

[Carl64]

The heat treating process for blades can be summarized in two sentences or explained in detail by whole books. You ought to be able to fill 4 pages easy enough by talking about austenite, martensite, carbides, tempering, etc, and how they relate to hardening steel.

Or you might be able to fill 4 pages with an in-depth review of the differences between Austenitic and martensitic stainless steels if you add simple Carbon steels for a third item (austenitic vs. martensitic might come up a little short). That gives you 3 things to compare: non-stainless Carbon steels, "stainless" knife steels that are only sort of so but always marketed as such, and almost completely stainless steel used for ots and tableware.

 

[rlinger]

I find book bond dictionaries best for me. Computer versions are so much more trouble and so much less convenient. I just wish I would crack open the dictionary more often.

RL

 

[Peter_E_Ryt]

Logan- long time no see! Here's an important read that'll help you out on your report: http://swordforum.com/metallurgy/ites.html

 

[Richard338]

Materials science is a hot topic in chemistry right now, but I can tell you this, not many chemists know much about steel (I'm a chemist). When I tell people at work about interesting properties of steel, its all news to them.

 

[Lima Kilo]

cool. thanx guys

 

[Lima Kilo]

finally turned in the paper. I dont know how i did yet but I'm confident. I did it on Surgical Stainless steels. Doing research raised some interesting questions. Like when you guys make katanas and other japanese blades do you design the curve into the blade or let it do it by itself as the edge heats up and expands like the sword makers of old?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Both . You forge the blade with a certain amount of downward curve, leave it straight,or forge in a little sori. - all depending on the finished curvature desired.After the quenches (it is an interrupted quench) it will have its final sori.If you planed right it is what you wanted.If not it is what you got.
BTW the first quench curves the blade downward.The second curves it back up to make the sori. This is where the curse words can come ,following the SQUEEK.....PING!!!

 

[Lima Kilo]

cool. Thanks Mr. Apelt. I guess that would also wold explain why the blades are so light. the extra space in the steel from it expanding.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You got it backward.There is only contracting going on.The first quench contracts the edge and bends the blade downward.This is martensitic steel.The second quench contracts the spine,this is pearlite/troosite and contracts more than the austentite did.Thus it curves upward .If the edge has dropped to too low a temperature it is pulled apart by this tension (PING!)The Japanese blades are not lighter than any other steel (density wise).They are well balance,and the blade cross section allows for the maximum use of the least amount of steel.A two or three pound sword can feel much lighter than a bowie knife.
Stacy