In an earlier post we discussed some of the basics of phase diagrams, using the iron-carbon (i.e. steel/cast iron) system as an example. While some talk of heating, heat treatment and quenching came up in the discussion, this is such an interesting and important area I wanted to give it its own space. Besides, Fiore apparently thought it was important too.
Let's first start with the use of hot working in blacksmithing: I am willing to bet that pretty much everyone reading this blog has seen a blacksmithing scene in a movie that goes something like this:
[Dramatic music plays over a dark scene, a Blacksmith, covered in soot with biceps like sacks of melons, forearms like hams, and a beard ZZ Top would be proud of stands before a glowing forge.]
[Blacksmith pumps bellows as flames jump out of the forge]
[Blacksmith grabs glowing hunk of metal from the forge, and begins hammering it madly]
[Blacksmith looks at the piece, and dips it into a vat of water. The water sizzles as steam dramatically rises from the water]
[Blacksmith then plunges the dark metal back into the forge and repeats the process]
[Fade to black, Fade music]
Let's start with why the above process is ridiculous (and not surprisingly, is not done by blacksmiths)
