Damascus Steel Ancient Sword Making Techniques

Damascus steel and Persian watered steel are common names for high-carbon steel swords created by Islamic civilization craftsmen during the middle ages and fruitlessly lusted after by their European counterparts. The blades had a superior toughness and cutting edge, and they are believed to have been named not for the town of Damascus, but from their surfaces, which have a characteristic watered-silk or damask-like swirled pattern. Fast Facts: Damascus Steel Name of Work: Damascus Steel, Persian watered steelArtist or Architect: Unknown Islamic metalsmithsStyle/Movement: Islamic civilizationPeriod: Abbasid (750–945 CE)Type of Work: Weaponry, toolsCreated/Built: 8th century CEMedium: IronFun Fact: The primary raw ore source for Damascus steel was imported from India and Sri Lanka, and when the source dried up, the sword-makers were unable to recreate those swords. The manufacturing method essentially went undiscovered outside of medieval Islam until 1998. Its hard for us to imagine the combined fear and admiration engendered by these weapons today: Fortunately, we can rely on literature. The British writer Walter Scotts 1825 book The Talisman describes a recreated scene of October 1192, when Richard Lionheart of England and Saladin the Saracen met to end the Third Crusade. (There would be five more after Richard retired to England, depending on how you count your crusades). Scott imagined an arms demonstration between the two men, Richard wielding a good English broadsword and Saladin a scimitar of Damascus steel, a curved and narrow blade, which glittered not like the swords of the Franks, but was, on the contrary, of a dull blue colour, marked with ten millions of meandering lines... This fearsome weapon, at least in Scotts overblown prose, represented the winner in this medieval arms race, or at least a fair match. Damascus Steel: Understanding the Alchemy The legendary sword known as the Damascus steel intimidated the European invaders of the Holy Lands belonging to the Islamic civilization throughout the Crusades (1095–1270 CE). Blacksmiths in Europe attempted to match the steel, using the pattern welding technique, forged from alternated layers of steel and iron, folding and twisting the metal during the forging process. Pattern welding was a technique used by sword-makers from around the world, including Celts of the 6th century BCE, Vikings of the 11th century CE  and the 13th-century Japanese samurai swords. But pattern welding wasnt the secret to Damascus steel. Some scholars credit the search for the Damascus steel process as the origins of modern materials science. But the European blacksmiths never duplicated the solid core Damascus steel using the pattern-welding technique. The closest they came to replicating the strength, sharpness and wavy decoration was by deliberately etching the surface of a pattern-welded blade or decorating that surface with silver or copper filigree. Wootz Steel and Saracen Blades In middle age metal technology, steel for swords or other objects was typically obtained through the bloomery process, which required heating the raw ore with charcoal to create a solid product, known as a bloom of combined iron and slag. In Europe, the iron was separated from the slag by heating the bloom to at least 1200 degrees Celsius, which liquified it and separated out the impurities. But in the Damascus steel process, the bloomery pieces were placed into crucibles with carbon-bearing material and heated for a period of several days, until the steel formed a liquid at 1300–1400 degrees. But most importantly, the crucible process provided a way to add high carbon content in a controlled manner. High carbon provides the keen edge and durability, but its presence in the mixture is almost impossible to control. Too little carbon and the resulting stuff is wrought iron, too soft for these purposes; too much and you get cast iron, too brittle. If the process doesnt go right, the steel forms plates of cementite, a phase of iron which is hopelessly fragile. Islamic metallurgists were able to control for the inherent fragility and forge the raw material into fighting weapons. Damascus steels patterned surface appears only after an extremely slow cooling process: these technological improvements were not known to the European blacksmiths. Damascus steel was made from a raw material called wootz steel. Wootz was an exceptional grade of iron ore steel first made in southern and south-central India and Sri Lanka perhaps as early as 300 BCE. Wootz was extracted from raw iron ore and formed using the crucible method to melt, burn away impurities and add important ingredients, including a carbon content between 1.3–1.8 percent by weight—wrought iron typically has carbon content of around 0.1 percent. Modern Alchemy Although European blacksmiths and metallurgists who attempted to make their own blades did eventually overcome the problems inherent in a high-carbon content, they could not explain how ancient Syrian blacksmiths achieved the filigreed surface and quality of the finished product. Scanning electron microscopy has identified a series of known purposeful additions to Wootz steel, such as the bark of Cassia auriculata (also used in tanning animal hides) and the leaves of Calotropis gigantea (a milkweed). Spectroscopy of wootz has also identified tiny amounts of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel, and some rare elements such as phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon, traces of which presumably came from the mines in India. Successful reproduction of damascene blades which match the chemical composition and possess the watered-silk decoration and the internal microstructure was reported in 1998 (Verhoeven, Pendray,  and Dautsch), and blacksmiths have been able to use those methods to reproduce the examples illustrated here. Refinements to the earlier study continue to provide information about complex metallurgical processes (Strobl and colleagues). A lively debate concerning the possible existence of a nanotube microstructure of Damascus steel developed between researchers Peter Paufler and Madeleine Durand-Charre, but nanotubes have been largely discredited. Recent research (Mortazavi and Agha-Aligol) into Safavid (16th–17th century) openwork steel plaques with flowing calligraphy were also made of wootz steel using the damascene process. A study (Grazzi and colleagues) of four Indian swords (tulwars) from the 17th through 19th-centuries using neutron transmission measurements and metallographic analysis was able to identify wootz steel based on its components. Sources Durand-Charre, M. Les Aciers Damassà ©s: Du Fer Primitif Aux Aciers Modernes. Paris: Presses des Mines, 2007. Print.Embury, David, and Olivier Bouaziz. Steel-Based Composites: Driving Forces and Classifications. Annual Review of Materials Research 40.1 (2010): 213-41. Print.Kochmann, Werner, et al. Nanowires in Ancient Damascus Steel. Journal of Alloys and Compounds 372.1–2 (2004): L15-L19. Print.Reibold, Marianne, et al. Discovery of Nanotubes in Ancient Damascus Steel. Physics and Engineering of New Materials. Eds. Cat, DoTran, Annemarie Pucci and Klaus Wandelt. Vol. 127. Springer Proceedings in Physics: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2009. 305-10. Print.Mortazavi, Mohammad, and Davoud Agha-Aligol. Analytical and Microstructural Approach to the Study of Historical Ultra-High Carbon (Uhc) Steel Plaques Belong to the Malek National Library and Museum Institution, Iran. Materials Characterization 118 (2016): 159-66. Print.Strobl, Susanne, Roland Haubner, and Wolfgang Scheiblechne r. New Steel Combinations Produced by the Damascus Technique. Advanced Engineering Forum 27 (2018): 14-21. Print.Strobl, Susanne, Roland Haubner, and Wolfgang Scheiblechner. Damascus Steel Inlay on a Sword Blade—Production and Characterization. Key Engineering Materials 742 (2017): 333-40. Print.Verhoeven, John D., and Howard F. Clark. Carbon Diffusion between the Layers in Modern Pattern-Welded Damascus Blades. Materials Characterization 41.5 (1998): 183-91. Print.Verhoeven, J. D., and A. H. Pendray. Origin of the Damask Pattern in Damascus Steel Blades. Materials Characterization 47.5 (2001): 423-24. Print.Wadsworth, Jeffrey. Archeometallurgy Related to Swords. Materials Characterization 99 (2015): 1-7. Print.Wadsworth, Jeffrey, and Oleg D. Sherby. Response to Verhoeven Comments on Damascus Steel. Materials Characterization 47.2 (2001): 163-65. Print.

Vampires Essay - 1146 Words

Vampires Obsession. A persistent, disturbing preoccupation with an often-unreasonable idea, feeling, object or person; broadly: compelling motivation (Collegiate Dictionary). Many stories have been told of obsessed men and women who waste their lives on lost causes, calling them tragedies. But what if you were immortal? What if you were forever? Then your life would not be wasted, but instead a reason for living would become instinctive. And what if having an obsession, something criticized by mortal humans, was the only way to keep your sanity and appetite for life through eternity? When looking through the vampires eyes in film and literature, we see that the foremost vampires have an obsession, a calling that drives them. Without†¦show more content†¦We see the undead come to life, with powers that overwhelm the imagination. But when Mina decides to leave him to wed Jonathan Harker, he again turns into a monster, a shadow of his former self. The life seems to have drained out of h im. This proves that it was his love for Mina, his eternal infatuation with her that had kept him going through the ages. It is this obsession that forced him to become a vampire, and he then hoped that one day he would be reunited with his love, because he knew that she would not have been able to join him in heaven. And though he knew of the dangers that surrounded him, he risked everything to be with her, for he would have rather die than to lose her again. Love also drives Louis, the hero (or victim, depending on the point of view) of Interview with the Vampire. Louis was a sad person when Lestat turned him into a vampire; his sole reason for living was his own guilt and misery. He did not even allow himself the ultimate pleasure a vampire has and needs, human blood. He feeds off rats and other animals, and wanders the street aimlessly, lost. As he puts it after Lestat tells him that there is no hell, But there was a hell, and no matter where we moved to, I was in it. But when Lestat gives him an undead companion, a young girl named Claudia, his whole world is turned upside down. He has a new thirst forShow MoreRelatedVampires : The Mystery Of Vampires970 Words   |  4 PagesVampires There have been stories in the magazines, newspapers and on television about people who claim to be vampires and are practicing the vampire culture. So the question here is, are these people who claim to be vampires truly vampires; and if so, are they a threat to the society? The purpose of this essay is to investigate and find out more about vampires, their origin, the different types, their beliefs and practices, and if they pose a safety threat. There are abundance of movies, books andRead MoreVampires Are The Reason Behind The Vampire1749 Words   |  7 Pagesblood. This creature is known as the vampire (Scavone 11). Vampires are creatures of the night with many powers and weaknesses, along with an insatiable craving for blood. The overwhelming mass of vampire myths throughout the world has led many to believe that this creature exists. However, scientists believe that several real-life vampires, such as animals and human diseases, are the reason behind the vampire legends. Thr ough many books and movies, vampires have been glamorized as creatures theRead MoreThe Vampire Evolution Of The Novel Vampire 1520 Words   |  7 PagesDalia Rebin Asti 12/11/14 HUM 102 The Vampire Evolution From all the way back to when the Romantic period started around the 18th century right up to today’s 21st century, vampires have completely evolved. They went from being heartless bloodthirsty killers to supernatural creatures that just want to live a normal life. From the beginning vampires have been night walkers that sleep throughout the day due to them being prone to sunburn, they’ve always had this peculiar yet charmingRead MoreThe History of Vampires1397 Words   |  6 Pagesseems obsessed with vampires. From gothic vampire novels, to endless movies, television and art, the vampire archetype continues to grow in popularity and sophistication. What is behind this seeming obsession with vampires, in our western culture? Why does this archeype endure? What does the vampire have, or do, that makes him/her so attractive and compelling? When did the transformation occur, from foul miscreant to suave tragic hero? Who is the vampire - really? Vampire culture seems in starkRead MoreThe History of Vampires1194 Words   |  5 PagesThe vampire is one of the oldest mythological creatures in the world. It has been around for thousands of years and is found in nearly every culture. There are many different kinds, the red-eyed corpses from China, the Greek Lamia- a woman with the lower body of a winged serpent, the Penanggalang in Malaysia- a woman with a detachable head, etc. The most commonly known, however, is the Romanian vampire, it is used often in pop culture, from movies, to television, to literature. The myth of theRead MoreVampire Vs. Vampire Family3080 Words   |  13 PagesToday, vampire is the hottest topic in novels, movies, and dramas around the world. Belief in vampires has existed for thousands of year in many different cultures around the world. In original folklore and mythology, the traditional vampires tend to be inhuman and have no soul. They are truly monstrosities. They feed human?s blood in the midni ght and enjoy killing people. Today?s outlook on vampires is more positive. Some modern vampires are very human and beautiful creatures. They often drink animalRead MoreVampire Vs. Vampire Myth2146 Words   |  9 Pages Vampires within literature and film traditionally follow a similar archetype of what a vampire consists of and the traits they harbor. Many European and Western vampire narratives share similar appearances, habits and afflictions. Most readers and viewers are extensively familiar with what they believe a vampire to be most often comparing these vampires to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Dracula is the quintessential example of modern vampires and has a significant and lasting impact on the genre of vampiresRead MoreSemiotic Study of Vampires and Vampires Lore1678 Words   |  7 PagesMICA | Semiotic Study of Vampires and Vampire Lore | Individual Assignment for Semiotics | | | | Submitted by: Payel Basu Roll No: 113B A semiotic study of vampires and vampire lore, with an eye on the different cultural implications that arise through the ages. | ------------------------------------------------- A semiotic study of vampires and vampire lore. The field of semiotics exists because of the realization that society has a desire to create and produce signsRead MoreA Night with a Vampire1261 Words   |  5 Pagesthe stairs. Laying back on the bed (with fresh, clean sheets, of course) and waited. David opened the door smiling and shut it behind himself. Walking slowly over to Billy, he started unbuttoning his black dress shirt. David climbed on top of the vampire and pressed his lips to Billy’s. Billy opened his mouth as a silent invitation and moaned as David’s warm tongue slid into his mouth. Their tongues wrestled, but after a few seconds, Billy let David take full control; he wasn’t the dominant type.Read MoreVampires Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesVampires Vampires have fell under a certain stereotype ever since the early nineteenth Century, and even up until today. Movies, novels and people in general have depicted vampires as bloodsucking demons who turn into bats, and I am sure everyone is familiar with any vampires need to seduce women almost daily. Vampires are said to be an alien nocturnal species, as Nina Auerbachs book-Our vampires, ourselves states; but all vampires are not the coffin lying, shadow loitering monsters

The Downside Risk of Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics That No One Is Talking About

The Downside Risk of Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics That No One Is Talking About The Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics Stories Say, for instance, you're a high school student, and you should compose a 3-page essay. Let's say you should purchase essay for college. An elongated essay is among the most significant sections of your IB Diploma. Devote 1015 days for a single essay. Details of Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics The point here is it's great in case you have some other type of motivation aside from just finishing the EE. Comparisons aren't the only way to acquire a grade A EE. The Hidden Facts on Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics Anyway, you can read the testimonials of our clients. Your orders will be carried out exactly as you desire. There are a lot of reasons why you ought to prefer our services. Another illustration of our efficiency can be viewed in both the speedy email shipping service that we use and the simple fact that we've got a 24 seven cust omer support support, which is not merely helpful throughout the procedure but also usually means that you could begin immediately. What You Don't Know About Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics Often there's a considerable difference between both. Opt for a topic in which you'll be able to find a great deal of information. The important thing here is that the comparison has to be significant. There aren't many moments in your writing process that may make a huge difference. Want to Know More About Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics? Inside my opinion, an essay with a great collection of primary data that is checked against other secondary research is a great strategy. You will shortly locate the official data about us. Now you're ready to make your research question. A superb research question is vital to a fantastic Extended Essay. What You Must Know About Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics It is going to also help you keep concentrated on the topic. The topic has to b e related to your subject in the school. Draw lines between the subject and subtopics. Whether there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it could be too narrow. Make it uniquely instead to demonstrate you've a comprehensive comprehension of your topic and subject. If you are in possession of an absolutely free subject, you must recognize the region of your principal interest. Don't neglect to mention the value of the topic. If your school isn't one already, learn to develop into an IB World School so as to implement the DP. To begin with, find what you actually wish to explore. Students should work through the list to make certain they have completed the vital sections of the Extended Essay. Since you may see, students will definitely face many challenges should they wish to turn into a member of the buy essay club. Our IB extended essay writing service is an absolutely free solution that will help you in formulating an acceptable research question. You can trust the ideal essay help online. It is normal for students like you to find pr ofessional support in writing an elongated essay for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Too often students depend on the net for every one of their secondary research. Therefore, if there's any reason why you cannot have your extended essay written on time yourself, all you have to do is place your order on our site, and leave the rest to us! If you aren't certain of who you'd like to be your advisor, I would start by producing a list of your top few choices. Our experts always advise getting something that's close to you. Another benefit of our website is the quickness. The Basic Facts of Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics Creating an ideal question is all about 25% of the entire battle. If you're really stuck trying to discover a not too broad or narrow topic, I would advise attempting to brainstorm a topic that utilizes a comparison. You should come up with your question based on your subject and the primary theme. You ought to be asking one relatively stra ightforward question. Ib Extended Essay Economics Topics: No Longer a Mystery The usage of subject specific terminology concepts from both subjects throughout is crucial so that it is reasonable that students really ought to study both subjects they've chosen. For example every student should realize the maximum level in each one of the subsequent. Attempt to consider the concepts you will be using (Test 2). The next 4 tests can help you make certain that your RQ is top notch. Choice of topic is the initial step towards writing the IB essay. Such an essay isn't the easiest one to take care of. A protracted essay is a sort of academic writing assignment, which success is dependent upon the structure. You will construct your whole extended essay around it. Some schools will provide you with a timeline of when you must think of a topic, when you will need to meet up with your advisor and when certain drafts are due. IBO does not need any paperwork. Ib Extended Essay Econo mics Topics - Is it a Scam? It's highly suggested to concentrate on those events that altered the course of history or had a big effect on society. As it's limited to 4,000 words, you should narrow the reach of your research to a specific facet of history, covering a brief time period. You've got to narrow down the subject and select an area which you can readily address. Do not offer a photo of jumbled random ideas.