Influência da intensidade de torção na integridade da interface soldada por caldeamento entre os aços SAE 1084 e UHB 15N20 na produção de aço damasco para cutelaria artesanal

Abstract

Damascus steel is widely used in artisanal knifemaking due to its combination of mechanical properties and distinctive aesthetics, resulting from the joining of different metallic alloys through forge welding. This study aimed to analyze the quality of the metallurgical bonding obtained by forge welding between SAE 1084 and UHB 15N20 steels in the production of twisted-pattern Damascus steel, seeking to correlate the integrity of the interfaces with the mechanical behavior of the produced material. For this purpose, a billet composed of alternating layers of both steels was manufactured and subsequently subjected to forge welding, forging, twisting, heat treatment, and specimen preparation processes. The samples were evaluated through tensile testing, Charpy impact testing, Rockwell C hardness testing, and metallographic analysis in both longitudinal and transverse sections. The results demonstrated that the forge welding process was effective in forming the characteristic Damascus steel layers and in bonding the materials in most analyzed regions. However, localized discontinuities were identified at the interfaces, which influenced the mechanical performance of the material. The tests indicated high hardness, low impact toughness, and predominantly brittle behavior in some specimens. The comparison between the samples with 40 and 50 twists indicated that the increase in torsion promoted greater deformation of the layers, but also favored the propagation of discontinuities. It was concluded that the quality of the bonding obtained through forge welding directly influences the mechanical properties of Damascus steel, making proper control of the manufacturing and heat treatment stages essential to achieve greater structural and mechanical uniformity. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]