1820.] On the Alloys of Steel. 59 



the eighth of an inch in width. The results of several experi- 

 ments on its composition, which appeared very uniform, gave 

 94*36 iron + 5*64 carbon. This being broken and rubbed to 

 powder in a mortar, was mixed with pure alumina, and the 

 whole intensely heated in a close crucible for a considerable 

 time. On being removed from the furnace and opened, an alloy 

 was obtained of a white colour, a close granular texture, and 

 very brittle : this, when analysed, gave 6*4 per cent, alumina, 

 and a portion of carbon not accurately estimated. 700 grains 

 of good steel, with 40 of the alumine alloy, were fused together, 

 and formed a very good button, perfectly malleable ; this, on 

 being forged into a little bar and the surface polished, gave, on 

 the application of dilute sulphuric acid, the beautiful damask 

 which will presently be noticed as belonging peculiarly to wootz. 

 A second experiment was made with 500 grains of the same 

 steel and 67 of the alumine alloy, and this also proved good ; it 

 forged well, and gave the damask. This specimen has all the 

 appreciable characters of the best Bombay wootz. 



We have ascertained, by direct experiment, that the wootz, 

 although repeatedly fused, retains the peculiar property of pre- 

 senting a damask surface, when forged, polished, and acted 

 upon by dilute acid. This appearance is apparently produced 

 by a dissection of the crystals by the acid ; for though by the 

 hammering the crystals have been bent about, yet their forms 

 may be readily traced through the curves which the twisting 

 and hammering have produced. From this uniform appearance 

 on the surface of wootz, it is highly probable that the much- 

 admired sabres of Damascus are made from this steel; and if 

 this be admitted, there can be little reason to doubt that the 

 damask itself is merely an exhibition of crystallization. That 

 on wootz it cannot be the effect of the mechanical mixture of 

 two substances, as iron and steel, unequally acted upon by acid, 

 is shown by the circumstance of its admitting re-fusion without 

 losing this property. It is certainly true that a damasked 

 surface may be produced by welding together wires of iron and 

 steel ; but if these welded specimens are fused, the damask does 

 not again appear. Supposing that the damasked surface is de- 

 pendent on the development of a crystalline structure, then the 

 superiority of wootz in showing the effect, may fairly be con- 

 sidered as dependent on its power of crystallizing, when solidi- 



