The methods of spectral, x-ray phase and microprobe analysis show that genuine Damascus steel is a high-purity unalloyed high-carbon steel with a high phosphorus content. It is shown that phosphorus in an amount of from 0.1% to 0.2%, having a high liquation coefficient, contributes to the process of segregation of carbon in interdendritic zone in the process of crystallization. Interdendritic zone formed carbon clusters, in the process of forging transform into oblong carbides cementite. The

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... n physical and chemical factors affecting the formation of oblong carbides are revealed. The hardness of carbide layers was determined, which was about 920 HV. The hardness of the troostite matrix was amounted about 475 HV. It is established that the cutting edge of the blade knife of Damascus steel is nothing more than a "micro-saw" consisting of parallel carbide and troostite layers. Tests are conducted on the preservation of the cutting edge sharpness of the blades knife of homogeneous structure of steel У15А (Russian) and the layered structure of genuine Damascus steel Ds15P (Indo-Persian). Found that with little effort cut (to 4 kg) ancient Damascus steel (Ds15P) shows a greater number of cuts than the modern instrument steel У15А. With an increase, force on the cutting edge from 6 kg to 12 kg carbon Tool steel is showed a more number of cutting on the 25% than in genuine Damascus steel. The fatigue crack propagation in the true Layered structure of Damascus steel Ds15P occurs for a greater number of cycles than in a homogeneous structure of the steel У15А. The blade knife of genuine Damascus steel, in terms of fatigue reliability (survivability), has almost 2 times longer service life than the blade knife of the modern carbon tool steel type У15А. It is proved that loss in cutting ability of a genuine Damascus steel compensates increased the reliability ("survivability") of the blade knife with fatigue loads.