Possible to have katana with titanium core

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mastermatta

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Sep 10, 2015
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So i was wondering if you could have a katana with a thick titanium alloy core and and thin high carbon steel outer layer and edge. For a smith is it even possible to fold steel over titanium? I know traditionally high carbon steel is folded over low carbon steel for to make katanas

Would this even make a good sword? I would think so as the core would be light strong and ductile and the outer layer would be hard and hold a good edge.
 
Yes that is possible, by forging the steel jacket into a groove along the titanium alloy core to sort of dovetail them together. Not sure how well it would hold up. You can also "braze" titanium to iron alloys with the right intermediate metal which would further strengthen the binary blade. Don't dismiss the ability of a proper ti alloy to hold an edge, though, you'd be surprised! :)
 
What has been done for over 50 years, typically a heat exchanger for example, is to "explosive bonding" to join steel to titanium. Works fine . However there is for a sword the problem of hardenig and the thermal expansion differences between the two metals.
As Mecha says though, just use the right Ti alloy and save yourself lots of trouble. !
 
It would be tricky to do. But even then, I think galvanic corrosion would be rampant.
The scenario perfectly fits the necessary criteria:
1-one metal to be substantially less corrosion resistant than the other
2-a good electrical contact between the metals
3- an electrolytic path (water, sea water, acid, alkali or salt solution)
between the metals

(http://www.kcicms.com/pdf/factfiles/titanium/sswxx_titanium_connectingdatasheet.pdf?resourceId=150)

I believe that the sword's lifespan would not be very long.

If you REALLY want a titanium core and crazy hard blade, you could do a titanium blade, and then carbide the edge. However, if you were to accidentally chip the edge, repairs would be exceptionally difficult. Instead of simply polishing or sharpening away the defect, you would need to recarbide the edge.

I think your best bet would be to use an exotic heat treatable Ti-alloy.
Here's a huge list of them that you can take your time picking through. Titanium is an amazing metal, and its properties can be all over the place, depending on the alloy composition :)

http://www.rtiintl.com/Titanium/RTI-Titanium-Alloy-Guide.pdf
 
I was thinking perhaps a replaceable steel "edge" that fits or locks into the titanium body would be the way to go.

Nice power point, Schmoopy!
 
fwiw- Years back, a customer asked Phill Hartsfield to grind him a Ti blade, in which Phill did but then the customer wanted Phill to secure a tool steel edge to the Ti blade. That's when the project ended.
rolf
 
In sure if you handed some company a billion dollars, it's possible for sure.

I'm wondering when we will have transparent alloys!
 
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