WHAT IS BULAT?
Outstanding steelmakers were brought up on metallurgical works of Russia. Besides famous centers of Russian Armoury in Tula, Izhevsk, Sestroretsk, where in 17-19th centuries the first armoury works in Russia were founded, the city of Zlatoust became famous all over the world due to its metallurgical works and armoury factory.
Pavel Petrovich Anosov, metallurgical engineer, and the founder of steel science and high quality metallurgy in Russia created the good name for this works. His bicentenary was celebrated in 1999.
It was P.P. Anosov, who revealed the secrets of bulat steel and methods of making bulat cold steel, which were know in Ancient Orient many centuries ago. Attempts of western European scientists, predecessors and contemporaries of P.P. Anosov, to reproduce patterned bulat blades and sabers with properties, which were achieved in Ancient Orient, gave no results.
Well, what is bulat?
The word bulat is derived from persian word pulad, meaning steel. It is high-carbon steel, containing up to 1.2-1.5% of carbon (compare: cast iron contains about 2 and more percent), which, due to special method of processing is distinguished by very high hardness, elasticity, toughness and bears various patterns on the surface. These properties, specific only for bulat steel, are caused by specific crystal structure of the metal, connected mainly with the method of its production (cast or welded), type of heat treatment and nature of plastic deformation.
Carbon steel consists mainly of two components: pure iron (to be more precise - ferrite), and chemical compound of iron with carbon - cementite (Fe3C). These two components of steel, being combined in various structures under influence of heat treatment, affect upon mechanical properties of the metal. Cementite is very hard; its hardness is equal to 640 units of Brinell (hardness of ordinary carbon steel is equal to 200 units).
High hardness of bulat steel was caused by availability in the metal of free cementite. During slow cooling, the cementite was forming very thin layers between grains of ferrite. Now we know that cementite is unstable compound, at 600 - 1100?C it decomposes into iron and free carbon.
Ancient masters of bulat knew nothing about physical and chemical transmutations in metal. In course of lengthy experiments they understood that in case of high content of carbon, which makes the metal harder, the process of heat treatment and forging must be made in specific interval of heating temperature. Overheating of metal, as we mentioned above, causes disintegration of cementite. That is why, in order to keep hardness, high ductility and elasticity of bulat steel, forging of hot metal was conducted very carefully. Ancient masters learned empirically to define the temperature of metal; forging of bulat was performed by hits of light hammer with multiple heating. Overheating higher than red heat lead to loss of physical and mechanical properties of bulat and disappearing of pattern.
P.P. Anosov in his researches passed through the whole multi-century way of ancient metallurgist and recreated by scientific-experimental method forgotten secrets of bulat steel production.
Experienced Asian masters believed, that the larger is the pattern, the higher is the metal quality. Space between patterns, background, is of various tints and depended on the type of bulat. Background was gray, brown or black. Shimmer of bulat surface could vary from reddish to goldish; the closer is this color to goldish, the higher is the quality of bulat.
Ancient masters also practiced various methods of assessment of quality of bulat blades. Basic “technological tests”, with which the properties of bulat were assessed, were the following: ringing sound - the clearer is the chink, the higer was considered the quality of steel; sharpness of blade - bulat cutting edge must cut flying gauze shawl; blade withstandability - while cutting iron rod the blade must not acquire notches; elasticity - bending must not incur break up and residual deformation.
In Ancient Orient bulat was produced as on basis of cast steel, and on basis of welded steel as well. P.P. Anosov called bulat, produced by means of welding (welded bulat), as false bulat. This bulat was produced by means of welding of pieces of various type steel - soft and hard - with following hot forging. Welded bulat also possessed nice patterns, but, as P.P. Anosov wrote, only experienced eye could tell the difference between them.
“True bulat, - P.P. Anosov wrote, - differs from welded bulat by inimitable location of patterns, depending on metal composition and by the fact, that it does not loose patterns in case of remelting, but undergoes more or less changes of their location, depending on how remelting was conducted and which influence it made on changing of metal composition”.
Consistent follower of Anosov’s teaching on bulat nature, outstanding Russian scientist-metallurgist D.K. Tchernov, analyzing works of his great predecessor, making experiments with bulat steel, has confirmed opinion of Anosov. According to D.K. Tchernov, type and specificity of bulat pattern depend on particularity of steel crystallization: slow cooling, steel clearness in respect of foreign admixtures - chromium, copper and other - and conditions of forging. According to Tchernov view, forging must be conducted under low temperature - below “Ü” Point, in iron-carbon state diagram, which he disclosed in course of his researches. D.K. Tchernov found dependency of steel structure and properties on its hot mechanical and heat treatment. He discovered critical temperatures, under which due to heating or cooling in hard state the steel undergoes phase transmutations, which considerably change structure and properties of metal. These critical temperature, determined by D.K. Tchernov by color of steel heat, where called the points of Tchernov. They are shown graphically on above mentioned iron-carbon state diagram (1868).
These are points “a” and “b”. Value of point “a” (dark-cherry heat) means, according to Tchernov, that steel, heated below point “a” does not accept hardening. For point “b” the scientist gave the following definition: steel, being heated below “b” point, does not change its structure. According to D.K. Tchernov “a” point corresponds to temperature, heating above which is necessary for steel quenching, and “b” corresponds to temperature, heating above which leads to correction of coarse-grain structure.
Heterogenity of steel, created in result of crystallization is laid in the basis of the teaching of D.K. Tchernov, as well as of the views of P.P. Anosov.
Technology of bulat production, invented by P.P. Anosov, was described so exactly, that D.K. Tchernov, using his notes, made in 1868 a bulat blade in Obukhov Factory.
Another prominent metallurgist N.I. Beliayev, who continued development of Anosov’s teaching, confirmed and developed mechanism of bulat pattern formation in the steel. In his article “On Bulat”, published in the magazine of Russian metallurgical society in 1911, he made a conclusion that patterns, appropriate to bulat steel, were direct results of crystallization process. A.P. Vinogradov, soviet scientist, made a solid contribution into solution of bulat steel formation nature. His experiments confirmed the method of cast bulat production, developed by P.P. Anosov.
Today the following question is posed quite frequently: why nowadays bulat steel is not produced? Bulat is carbon steel quality index, which was produced in relatively small quantities. Modern metallurgical technology found many ways of producing of strong metal. During last decades a high level was achieved in technology of production of various alloyed steel, which is characterized by wide range of physical and mechanical properties at much easier technology of mass production.
But bulat steel represents a large historical interest. Fundamental studies in this area confirmed priority of Russian science in discovery of bulat secrets and influenced greatly on development of methods of production of high quality metal on the basis of well-known “iron-carbon” system. The basis of bulat studies, laid by P.P. Anosov, led to creation of a prominent school of Russian metallurgists and metallographers, which influenced greatly on further development of metallurgy in the world.
BULAT:
Saga. Legends. Reality
Aristotle, Ancient Greek scientist, who lived in 4th century B.C., mentioned about bulat, as well as some other ancient and medieval authors, who noted exclusive durability and sharpness of bulat sabers, swords and daggers.
There are several opinions about appearance of first bulat steel samples. Most trustworthy of them are connected with leading role of masters of Ancient Egypt in this matter. Several centuries before Common Era they were able to turn iron into steel, change its properties by thermal processing. The culture of Ancient Egypt influenced on neighboring countries of Middle East, of Southern and Central Asia, on India, Syria, Persia and others.
India was one of the countries, where metallurgy of iron and non-ferrous metals in the first centuries B.C. was on high level. Participants of Campaigns of Alexander Macedonian left in India in 327 B.C. the evidence of this.
The rulers of one of Punjabi principalities (Western India), presented Alexander Macedonian with one hundred of talents of steel, i.e. about 250 kg (one talent is equal to 25.9 kg) - a considerable amount for those days, and this was mentioned not by chance by the authors of the campaign chronicles.
Biruni (973-1048), Central Asian scientist-encyclopaedist, wrote more than one thousand years ago in his historical work about India in chapters, devoted to production of cold steel in that country: ”There will never be another nation, which understood separate types of swords and their names, than the inhabitants of India.” (cit. N.A. Mezenin “Zanimatelnoye o zheleze” (Interesting about iron)). Besides this, Biruni noted that Indian masters make swords of different colors and with different patterns on them.
Much later, in 1154, an Arab traveler and geographer Edrizi also wrote about production of steel and swords, which was widely spread in India. Indian bulat was known under name of wootz.
Another country, which was famous for production of bulat was Syria. It is well known that Pharaoh Tutmos III (ruled in Egypt approx. in 1525-1473 B.C.) led continuous wars with Syria. Many Syrian towns were under rule of Egyptians for many years and thus experienced the influence of its culture and metallurgy in particular. Besides, trade connections of Syrian towns with India, Persia and other countries, also promoted development and flourishing of bulat production and making of cold steel. Thus, one of the richest cultural centers of Syria - Damascus - conducted wide trade with Indian town of Koch, in which a lot of metallurgical shops was located.
Production of bulat cold steel in those far away days was a secret of individual masters and methods of its production in each country had their own particularities. Thus various types of bulat appeared, production of which depended not only on the methods of metal treatment. Experience and art of masters, as well as raw materials (mainly chemical composition of iron ore), are particular for various countries.
That is why bulats were distinguished by the names of various locations, where they were produced. Such bulats were known, as “taban”, “kara-taban”, “harasan”, “tyndy”, “sham” and others. “Sham” is Turkish name of Syria. This steel was produced in Damascus. The name “Damask” later became a generalized notion of bulat steel, produced in various countries.
Starting since the 3rd century some methods of Damask swords forging was spread over Western Europe, though their quality was inferior to Ancient Orient corresponding items. About 700 years later the secret of bulat production in Western Europe was lost.
The warriors of Ancient Russia were well acquainted with bulat. Russian epos praises “mechi bulatnye kharaluzhnye” (= kharalug bulat swords). “Slovo o Polku Igoreve” (Word (12th century), a masterpiece of Ancient Russian literature, tells us that the warriors of Prince Vsyevolod Trubchevsky were striking Polovetsky warriors with bulat swords. The author of the “Slovo” wrote:”Oh, Fierce Buffalo-bull Vsyevolod! Stand amid the fray, shower shafts on the foe! On their helms around kharalug swords resound! Where you, Oh Bull, have cantered, where your golden helm gleams yet, there around lie scattered heathen heads of Polovets, hewn off by bulat sabers”. In another part of the poem a method of tempering of bulat swords was depicted in poetic expressions. The method was the following: a forged red-hot blade was given to a rider who rides his horse as hard as possible. A flaming kharalug blade was tempering in a stream of air, and the cutting edge, cooling faster, became harder, and back edge of the blade remained more ductile, which in general produced ideal qualities of a blade.
Bulat blades were praised very highly in ancient and in later times.
In one literature source, belonging to beginning of 19th century,
a story about one Sind Emir (Sind is a province in Pakistan) is told:
he owned an ancient bulat saber, and someone suggested to sell it for
enormous sum - 800 pounds sterling, which corresponded to 9000 gold rubles.
But Emir rejected to sell it.
It is considered that bulat was brought to Russia from Orient by two ways. One of the ways was passing through Georgia, where bulat was not only widely spread, but methods of its production were well known. “Gorny journal” (Mining Magazine) wrote about this in 1841, informing about someone master Geurg Yeliyarov, who was producing boolat of “high quality for sabers”. Such bulat blade during testing hewed off a bull’s head with one hit. But to do this, according to remarks of contemporaries of P.P. Anosov, a strong hand was required. Yeliyarov received the art of bulat production came from his ancestors. It is believed that it was welded bulat (as opposed to cast steel), the art of production of which, most probably, was brought to Georgia from India and Turkey.
Another way to Russia came from Central Asia where Samarkand City was located (Marakanda City since 4th to 6th century). Since the end of 14th century, during the years of its prosperity, Samarkand was the capital of the state of Emir Timur or Tamerlan (1336-1405). Tomur led long wars with neighboring oriental countries, including India, he had conquered many Indian towns. By the end of life of Timur, his state included towns and vast territories on Middle East and Central Asia, as well as in Southern Asia, where large centers of ancient metallurgy were located: Korasan, Khoresm, Transcaucasia, Persia, Punjab and others. Central Asia was the main way of penetration of bulat in Russia, which is confirmed by so called kharalug swords (see. “Slovo o Polku Igoreve”). “Kharalug” means “colored” and is derived from the word “kara-lyg”. After occupation of Syria and capture of Damascus Timur has moved all masters to other countries under his control. At the same time the conquers of Timur caused extinction of bulat production. Production of bulat in Damascus degraded, and descendants of masters, scattered all over the world, who were brought to unaccustomed conditions, have lost the methods of bulat production.
In medieval Russia and Western Europe production of bulat was recreated, but soon this secrets were also lost. In Moscow Kremlin, in Armoury Chamber, a Russina-made knife (usually carried under game-bag) made in 16th century, which belonged to Prince Andrey Ivanovich Staritsky (reigned since 1519), junior son of the Czar Ivan III; the blade was made of bulat with golden inlay, bearing the following sign “Prince Andrey Ivanovich year of 7024” (1516 ). The saber of Czar Mikhail Feodorovich (1596-1645) made by Nil Prosvit, saber master, in 1618 is also kept there: the blade of this saber is made of bulat with slits, decorated with inlay and a sign, dating the time of production. Besides Nil Prosvit, such masters as Dmitry Konovalov and Bogdan Ipatyev were making bulat blades in Russia in 17th century and in second half of 17th century the Czar Aleksey Mikhailovich sent three apprentices to Astrakhan to “study bulat saber blades”. These blades were produced in 16th and 17th centuries in Russia in puddling kilns. Bulat was produced by means of heating of iron bloom in burning charcoal; so surface carbonization of metal occurred. During fast cooling of the bloom with water the steel layer was quenched and was easily detached by hammering. The procedure continued until all bloom did not turn into carbonized sheets. These sheets were laid on burning coal and were heated till welding. Hot mass of the pile was treated mechanically after that it acquired dense structure. Piled steel was very hard and was used for making of high quality weapon and armor for warriors; highly durable and strong machine details and tools.
Travelers described bulat weapon, legends were told about it, some of which were used by writers and poets.
In one of legends, described in “ Mascot or Richard Lion Heart in Palestine”, a novel by Walter Scott, a meeting of King of England Richard Lion Heart (1157-1199) with Sultan Saladin (in historical literature known as Salah-ad-Din, reigned since 1171 till 1193) during the Third Crusade, was described. They decided to demonstrate to each other whose blade was better. To prove advantage of his sword, the King of England took a steel bar one and a half inch thick, laid it on a piece of wood and cut it by mighty stroke. No notch remained on the sword blade. Then Sultan has drawn out of the sheath his tarnished-blue sabre, made of bulat steel, and ordered to bring a down silk pillow. With one light stroke he cut the pillow into two parts, which, as it seemed to everyone, had fallen apart on its own, without any effort from the side of Sultan. Then Sultan had taken off his shawl, folded it in two, hanged it on his saber, thrown it up and cut it into two pieces with a sudden stroke.
Contemporaries of P.P. Anosov, poets A.S. Pushkin and M.Yu. Lermontov, who visited Caucasus, also described bulat in their works.
A.S. Pushkin, who probably got acquainted with true bulat weapon, in his poem “Gold and Bulat” (1827), wrote the following:
“Everything is mine, told the gold;
Everything is mine, told the bulat.
Will buy everything, told the gold;
Will take everything, told the bulat."
M.Yu. Lermontov was sent in exile in 1837 to Georgia. He was interested in the secret of bulat steel production. In his poem “The Poet” (1838) he devoted to bulat the following lines:
“My dagger is glowing with golden decoration;
The blade is reliable without a flaw;
Its bulat keeps secret hardening -
Martial heritage of Orient”.
Despite the loss of bulat steel production secret, the interest to this legendary ancient metal was not getting weaker. In the end of 18th century - first half of 19th century, in various countries the works for disclosing of bulat steel secrets started with participation of prominent scientists.
Many foreign scientists-metallurgists were occupied with this problem, among these were famous Swedish metallurgist Sven Rinman, who published in 1772 a very informative manual on metallurgy of iron and steel, and his followers. On basis of experience of production by medieval European masters of welded bulat, he expressed opinion, that the patterns on the metal are connected with welding of steel stripes of various compositions, and difference in patterns is connected with the method of forge welding. Some foreign scientists - English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and others - explained the properties of bulat by presence of foreign impurities in steel: aluminum, platinum, silver and chromium.
However it was Pavel Petrovich Anosov, Ural metallurgist, disclosed the secret of bulat steel. His studies, having scientific nature, started with examination of foreign authors, despite the fact, that he considered their opinions ungrounded.
PAVEL PETROVICH ANOSOV
Till recently the date of birth of Pavel Petrovich Anosov was not known for sure. Thus, in “Russian Biographic Reference Book”, issued in 1900, the birth date of P.P. Anosov was referred to 1798; in the book “Role of Russian Science in development of metallurgy and heat treatment of metal”, issued in 1948, there was specified the year of 1797; the same date - 1797 - specifies bibliography reference book, issued by State Scientific Library in 1950. This error was transferred in other books and articles, devoted to P.P. Anosov.
In reality the year of birth of P.P. Anosov is 1799.
This fact was revealed due to studies of historians in Sverdlovsky Oblast State Archives, who found official list of P.P. Anosov. Now 1799 is considered official date of birth of our outstanding compatriot. This archive information was confirmed by new findings - three official lists of P.P. Anosov, which were kept in Altaisky Krai State Archives. Unfortunately all these lists do not contain day and month of his birthday.
It is known that P.P. Anosov was born in Saint Petersburg in family of an official. His father served in Berg-Collegium. In 1806 he was appointed on position of Perm Mine Directorate Counselor.
Soon after moving to Ural, the parents of P.P. Anosov died. The orphans were brought up by L.F. Sabakin, their Grandfather, - a famous Russian engineer, who worked on Izhevsk and Votkinsky state factories. When Pavel was 11, on April 3, 1810, he was sent to Saint Petersburg Mine Cadet School to study at the state expense. This school was founded according to Ekaterina II Decree, dated 21 October, 1773, as subordinate to Berg-Collegium; this Mine College was equated to academies; since 1804 it was reformed into Mine Cadet School and then, since 1833, into the Institute of Mine Engineers. The building of Mine Cadet School was built according to the project of A.N. Voronikhin on Vasilievsky Island. It was distinguished by its monumentality and was considered one of the finest buildings of Saint Petersburg. The classes and dormitories of the Mine School were first located in three small houses, not far from each other. According to Czar Decree these three houses were joined in order to create more convenient cond
itions for studies and rest of future mine engineers. Requirement in highly qualified personnel was very high due to intensive development of mine industry in the Ural and in Siberia.
The Mine Cadet School cadets received good training. Among subjects there were: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, surveyor training, mineralogy, metallurgy, drawing, chemistry, mechanics, physics, French, German and Latin. During the reign of Alexander I, who paid great attention to metallurgical production, the training program of the Mine Cadet School was expanded. Besides technical and application subjects, there were introduced poetry, mythology and ancient languages. The cadets studied music, dances and fencing. They visited Hermitage, cabinet of curiosities, Academy of Arts. Discipline was very strict. The whole day was filled with studies and routine affairs. Officers on duty observed daily routine. But in contrast to many other Russian educational institutions strictness was combined with liberalism: birch-rod was practically excluded from means of “education”.
In the Mine Cadet School a great attention was paid to practical training. Chemical, Physical experiments were conducted, as well as streaming of various ores. In the courtyard of the educational institute a “mine” was constructed with passages and excavations. In the workshops of the School and in Saint Petersburg Mint the pupils melted various metals. The School constantly received new Ural and Siberian collections of minerals, rare gold nuggets. Special attention was attracted by malachite block, which was appraised equal to unprecedented sum of 425 thousand rubles, as well as platinum nugget with mass of 10 pounds and 54 zolotniks (4.33 kg), which was found at one Nizhnetagilsk villa. Collections of School contained many items and semi-finished goods of metallurgical production: sheet iron with ideally even thickness, razors, place settings, highly artistic iron casting. Pavel Anosov expressed special interest to skillfully made cold arms, among which there were many Circassian and Turkish sabers, Roman swords with elaborate drawings, made of rare types of steel. He was impressed by bulat sabers with marvelous patterns. And when he asked his teachers, how ancient masters managed to make bulat weapon with patterns, he received one and the same answer: “The secret of bulat is lost”.
He was always thinking about necessity of disclosing of bulat secrets. Pavel Anosov thought about this at nights, rereading books about knights, armed with bulat weapon, with which they were slashing their enemies.
One incident happened when Pavel Anosov rose at night, “… took a candle and quietly, so that nobody heard, went to the hall, where bulat blades were kept in showcase. He was examining them for a long time. The candle flame was reflected in the glass, the patterns were dancing in his eyes, and falling in an armchair he… fell asleep.
Pavel got up because of noise, caused by attendant. Ostermeier, omnipresent classes inspector was standing near him. Turmoil started, they were saying that the School nearly burned. In the morning Anosov had to be held responsible to the School Director A.S. Deryabin. But Deryabin was sober-minded and respected cadets. Pavel got off with strict reprimand only.” “We cannot punish the young man, Deryabin told to Mine School Inspector. He takes a great interest in question, solving of which would bring honor to our country.”
Studies were easy for P. Anosov. He was among first five best students. He had enough time to visit training cabinets, to read books and to play games. He was good in drawing and also took part in amateur performances. The plays in the School were performed in foreign languages in those days. The uniform of the cadets was very good looking: dark blue uniform with black velvet collar and cuffs, black falls and red edging, black shoulder-belt and shako.
For successes in sciences “demonstrated during examinations” P. Anosov was awarded with books, engravings, a large golden and silver medals. In October 1816 P. Anosov was promoted to corporal. In 1817 he graduated with honors and was sent from Mine Cadet School as probationer to active service.
Large golden medal provided Pavel Anosov with 500 rubles issued by Mine Cadet School Administration as cash benefit. This money was a considerable sum in those days. And when the graduate received proposal for service in far-away Zlatoust, he decided to buy equipment most necessary for novice engineer. The first instrument was a microscope. Pavel Anosov knew, of course, that M.V. Lomonosov, his great compatriot, was the first to apply microscope for his chemical studies and, foreseeing character of his work in the Urals, he decided to get the same instrument. In November 1817 P. Anosov was sent to the factories of Zlatoust mining region (Southern Ural). Being a probationer, he had to prepare a thesis. In those days the graduates of Mining Cadet School were sent not to active service not as officers, as it was previously, but as probationers. They had to stay in this rank for two years, spending this time for examination of mines and factories, for getting accustomed to service routine”.
Only after reporting on their thesis the probationers were enlisted to service.
The results of his observations P. Anosov described in his thesis “Systematic description of mining and factory production on Zlatoust armoury, composed by probationer P. Anosov, 1819”.
Zlatoust mining region encompassed in those days iron-melting and iron producing factories: Zlatoust factory of white (cold) arms, Satkinsky, Kusinsky and Artinsky, as well as Miass gold mines and Miass copper-melting factory, which was idle.
The center of the mining region was Zlatoust factory on Ai River, founded in 1754 by Masolov, Tula merchantman and factory owner.
In 1811 Zlatoust factory settlement was renamed as City of Zlatoust.
In 1819 P.P. Anosov was appointed on position of inspector of Zlatoust armoury factory in “weapon decoration department”, where he immediately started improvement of production. His first innovation was creation of more effective cylinder air blowing bellows.
Fruitful activity of P.P. Anosov attracted attention of the Department of Mining and Salt Affairs.
On September 24, 1824, he was awarded with his first order for “perfect order and arrangements” on the factory and in November of the same year he was appointed on the position of armoury factory manager. In 1829 Pavel Petrovich became an assistant of the factory Director. Here systematic studies in the sphere of metallurgy began, his scientific works on geology of Southern Urals and thermal treatment of steel. In 1826 his work “Geognostic observations of Ural Mountains, laying around Zlatoust factories” was published. Then he published two works on thermal treatment of steel: “Description of new method of steel quenching in compressed air” (1827) and “About experiments of quenching of steel items in compressed air, performed in 1828 and 1829”. Besides, in 1829 his article named “About Ural corundum” was published.
Zlatoust armoury factory was making damask type sabers, known as Turkish sabers. P.P. Anosov notices that the quality of damask sabers, brought from Orient, was much higher than quality of damask sabers produced in Europe and on Zlatoust factory. He became certain, that the art of making of damask sabers equal in quality to oriental sabers is not known and “this is until now a mystery for scientists and artists of the Europe”.
P.P. Anosov looks for the key to the mystery. Studying of samples of true damask sabers and literature sources brings forth the following idea: does outstanding sharpness of oriental sabers depend in greater degree on methods of quenching and not on the material, of which they are made? His supposition was confirmed after experiments with quenching of ordinary steel knives in condensed air of the factory cylinder bellows. The knives appeared after such quenching much sharper, than the knives, quenched by ordinary method.
In similar way P.P. Anosov conducted quenching of steel scythes of Artinsky factory of Zlatoust region and received similar positive results.
These scythes were scything easily dry grass, but according to his information “even birch bushes could not resist to their sharpness”. The methods of quenching of steel items in compressed air, proposed by the scientist, were laid in the basis of his further studies on thermal treatment of bulat (damask) steel.
In 1831 P.P. Anosov was appointed on position of Director of armoury factory and simultaneously he was charged with responsibilities of Chief Head of Zlatoust mining region factories. The talented engineer received wide possibilities for conducting of studies and experiments on disclosing of technological secrets of bulat steel. His studies, started in 1828, continued totally for ten years and brilliantly terminated by the end of 1838, which will be described later separately.
On January 26, 1834, P.P. Anosov was promoted to the rank of colonel of Mining Engineers Corps. In the same year he discovers rich gold containing sands, where famous Andreyevsky mine was created. In 1834 he published the work “Geognostic observations in Zlatoust factories region and in neighboring locations”. In 1835 Pavel Petrovich was awarded with second order and in 1836 - with third order. In the same year of 1836 he received a benefit on cast steel, invented by him. On January 20, 1837 General Manager of Mining Engineers Corps announced to P.P. Anosov gratitude for “first samples of Russian bulat”. As it was noted, Russia became the first country in the world producing bulat steel of best quality.
On May 14, 1837 P.P. Anosov was awarded with fourth order for his labor “in favor of home mining industry”. He was working out methods of melting of gold containing sands in crucibles, in blast furnace and in mine copper melting furnace and in 1838 on Atlyansky mine the first gold-washing machine of Anosov - “self-propelled machine”. In 1839 the creative work of P.P. Anosov was very fruitful: Moscow agriculture society awards him with golden medal “for perfection of scythe production on Zlatoust factories”, with decoration for twenty years of service, with money bonus of 2 000 silver rubles for saving of 180 thousand rubles on factories and for increase of gold washing. Besides, he was awarded with gratitude “for successful improvement of steel items” and a decree was published on using of cast steel, produced according to the method of Anosov, for making tools on armoury factories.
On December 27, 1840 P.P. Anosov was promoted to the rank of general-major of Mining Engineers Corps. In 1842-1845 Pavel Petrovich conducts successful works on discovery of graphite fields, improves gold-washing machines of his own design, constructs on Zlatoust factories 6 local railways, and finishes a project on improvement of bloom hammers section on the factory.
P.P. Anosov - inventor of gold-washing machine, which was installed on Miass golden mines in 1846. Later he improved bloom hammers (1847).
On February 20-28, 1847 he was appointed on the position of Tomsk civil governor and chief head of Altai metallurgical factories.
However all his basic activity was devoted to developing of new methods of production of high quality cast steel and to disclosing of secrets of bulat .