Ichorized Steel

Ichorized steel is a low carbon steel alloy with an ichor mass fraction of 4-21%. Often used in fine machinery, it is prized for its hardness, temperature resistance, and strength. It is considered an impractical material for large scale use due to its difficulty in machining and high cost. At higher ichor concentrations, the steel takes on a royal blue color.

Properties

Ichorized steel is stronger by mass and volume than any other steel alloy. It is both hard and malleable. It can be bent in half without fracturing yet cannot be scratched by steel or quartz. It is resistant to corrosion or oxidization. These factors make polished pieces hold their shine almost indefinitely. Low blue steels melt between 1900-2100 °C. Higher blue steels melt between 2100-2250 °C.

Variants

Ichorized steel has several grades depending on the mass ratio of ichor to steel. Additional elements can also be added to produce desired effects. Concentrations above 21% are untenable, becoming brittle and cracking like glass.

Low blue steel

"Low blue" describes any alloy with an ichor concentration between 4-9%. These metals are easier to work with and cheaper than high blue alloys but still possess some of the characteristic heat resistance and durability. Alloys with higher concentrations are stronger and harder, so very low blue steel is used as a high quality steel alternative, where as higher blue steels are used only for extreme conditions and high cost parts.

High blue Steel

"High blue" describes any alloy with a concentration of ichor between 10-14%. These alloys are exceptionally hard, making them unsuitable for detailing work or elastic applications such as springs. Medium blue steels are revered for their strength and durability. High blue daggers or swords are often prized family heirlooms and keep their edge for generations. They are also often are used for small, high stress tools. Hammers and punches made of high blue steel are marks of an elite craftsman.

Saturated ichorized steel

Alloys containing an ichor mass fraction of greater than 15% are rare. The metal becomes excessively brittle, making it impractical for material use. Additionally, it is very expensive due to its high ichor content. While this metal has a striking blue color, it is usually ignored for ornamentation in favor of other precious metals. Alloys at this concentration are only useful as a storable component in smelting, since raw iron can be added to achieve the desired, lower concentration.

Arselin steel

Arsenic mass fractions of 0.37-0.39% create a paler, sky blue alloy which trades weight for hardness while retaining strength. This makes it one of the most desirable materials for armor, but its cost makes it unobtainable for all but the wealthiest nobles and most seasoned adventurers. Its cost comes both from the required ichor and precision of smelting. If too little arsenic is added, there will be internal banding in regions where arsenic was not absorbed into the crystal structure. If too much arsenic is added, it will begin bonding to the celestium. This forms the impurity celestium arsenide which lowers the celestium content and creates imperfections in the crystal structure, resulting in a weak and brittle metal.

Another benefit of arselin steel is the loss of electrical conductivity, allowing magic to freely flow through it. Because of this, mages can wear arselin steel armor without any impedance to casting. However, the cost of heavy armor is so great that few mages can afford it. Those that can rarely wear it, refusing to risk damaging the armor in combat.

Industry

Ichorized steel is produced in a few different ways, but all involve the addition of Gaia's Ichor to molten metal. The ichor burns off in the high temperatures of the furnace, producing byproducts which decompose into atomic celestium at the furnace's high temperatures, which is then absorbed into the metal. The steel must be melted to extremely high temperatures, as the addition of celestium raises the melting point of the metal significantly. This requires large furnaces, making it difficult to smelt in urban areas.

The primary vendor for ichorized steel is Alexander Maxwell, though some talented blacksmiths are capable of forging the metal themselves. These smiths usually make small quantities and distribute it on the black market, as Maxwell keeps a list of approved vendors for ichorized steel and components, often pressuring or killing those who distribute otherwise.