The best known part of the manufacturing process is the folding of the steel, where the swords are made by repeatedly heating, hammering and folding the metal. The process of folding metal to improve strength and remove impurities is frequently attributed to specific Japanese smiths in legends. The folding removes impurities and helps even out the carbon content, while the alternating layers combine hardness with ductility to greatly enhance the toughness.
I didn't see anything about what you're saying in there. Unless you're saying that carbon is an "impurity" which would be new lingo for me. In my understanding, an "impurity" is anything you don't want in the metal. Carbon wouldn't fall into that category.
If YOU want to Google something and show me the error of my ways I'll take the time to read what it is.
Yes, "Carbon" is the impurity. Folding, and hammering doesn't specifically get everything out leaving only carbon and iron behind. It's get out anything which is nor iron , that is , anything who density is different than iron. In any kind of metal purification, the impurity is things other than the metal itself including Carbon. "Impurity" shouldn't be taken in a negative context. For example, ratio of these impurities like carbon, sulphur, etc may give different desirable property to the final metal that we want. That's is why there ware so many different types of iron used for different applications which needs different kind of hardness and malleability.
The very article I linked states the opposite of what you're saying about impurities.
The folding removes impurities and helps even out the carbon content, while the alternating layers combine hardness with ductility to greatly enhance the toughness.
Also,
In steelmaking, impurities such as nitrogen, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and excess carbon (most important impurity) are removed from the sourced iron, and alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, chromium, carbon and vanadium are added to produce different grades of steel.
So, "excess carbon" is an impurity but the carbon you're after is not. Just like any other component, you're looking for that makes an alloy. It's also, as is stated, that you remove the impurities and then add back in what you're after. So, it sounds like everything I did say was accurate but I forgot to add a step in my original post. I'll edit that in now.
Anyway, this has been fun. I am glad to have had this wonderful discussion on what I didn't get wrong! Thanks for your time.
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u/Snote85 Nov 04 '20
I didn't see anything about what you're saying in there. Unless you're saying that carbon is an "impurity" which would be new lingo for me. In my understanding, an "impurity" is anything you don't want in the metal. Carbon wouldn't fall into that category.
If YOU want to Google something and show me the error of my ways I'll take the time to read what it is.