Wootz steel

Wootz is the original crucible steel making technique, discovered in India around 300AD (although some say as early as 200BC). Wootz is an Anglicised version of ukku, the word for steel in many south Indian languages.

Wootz is produced by placing a mixture of wrought iron or iron ore and charcoal in a cruicible with glass, which is then sealed and heated in a furnace with a number of other crucibles. After some time the result is a mixture of impurities mixed with glass floating on the surface, and "buttons" of steel. The buttons (with a typical carbon content of 1.5%) were separated from the slag and poured into 2 kg ingots.

Wootz steel was widely exported thoughout the region, and became particularly famous in the Middle East, where it became known as Damascus steel. Damascus swords were renowned for their toughness, it being said that they could cut through a man with a single stroke, and be bent around a man and return to their original shape when released.