Ultrahigh-carbon “wootz” from crucible carburization of molten iron: Hypereutectoid steel from “Tamil Nadu Process” at Mel-siruvalur

As European and Mediterranean accounts indicate, India has been famed for the production of steel, apparently made by crucible processes. Late medieval traveler’s accounts record the making of “wootz” steel in several places in southern India. This material was used for the fabled Damascus swords, which were later found to be of ultrahigh-carbon steel. Whereas studies on Asian crucible steel making from India, Central Asia and Sri Lanka have...