article: In Game of Thrones, the secret to forging super-light and strong Valyrian steel swords was said to have been lost with the Doom of Valyria. But, despite its fictional basis, a scientist has investigated whether it would be possible to make a similar weapon using bona fide chemistry. By studying the composition of modern steel, welding techniques and assessing all the characteristics of Valyrian steel, he concludes  it isn't a steel at all, but instead is a metal matrix composite. Scroll down for video . According to the Game of Thrones books, Valyrian steel is a form of super strong and light metal forged when the Valyrian Freehold governed Essos and covered more than half the known world. Ned Stark, played in the HBO adaptation of the books by Sean Bean, had a Valyrian sword called Ice (pictured) The findings and conclusions were made by materials scientist Ryan Consell in the latest Reactions video for Washington-based American Chemical Society. According to George R. R. Martin's books, Valyrian steel is a form of metal forged when the Valyrian Freehold governed Essos, and covered more than half the known world. It reigned for 5,000 years before a disaster struck the empire, known as the 'Doom of Valyria'. A lot of the empire's military strength came from its ability to forge Valyrian steel, renowned in the fictional kingdoms as being incredibly sharp, light, strong, super heat-resistant and dark in colour with a very distinct ripple patterns. The fictional Valyrian steel was renowned in the kingdoms as being incredibly sharp, light, strong, super heat resistant and dark in colour with a very distinct ripple patterns. It was reportedly forged using Westerosi magic and the secret to forging it was said to have been lost with the Doom of Valyria . In the latest Reactions video for the American Chemical Society, materials scientist Ryan Consell (pictured) studied which materials could create a similar sword. He began by looking at standard steel. Steel is an alloy made mostly of iron, but also includes around 2% of carbon . According to George R. R. Martin's books, Valyrian steel is a form of metal forged when the Valyrian Freehold governed Essos and covered more than half the known world. It reigned for five thousand years before a disaster struck the empire, known as the 'Doom of Valyria'. A lot of the military strength came from having Valyrian steel weapons, renowned in the fictional kingdoms as being incredibly sharp, light, strong, super heat resistant and dark in colour with a very distinct ripple patterns. It was reportedly forged using Westerosi magic. Ned Stark, played in the HBO adaptation of the books by Sean Bean, had a Valyrian sword called Ice. Kingslayer Jamie Lannister gave his 'Oathkeeper', made from Ice to Brienne of Tarth. A dagger used by an assassin in an attempt to kill Bran Stark was also made from Valyrian steel and had been lost in a bet by Petyr Baelish to Tyrion Lannister. It was reportedly forged using Westerosi magic. Ned Stark, played in the HBO adaptation of the books by Sean Bean, had a Valyrian sword called Ice. King slayer Jamie Lannister gave his 'Oathkeeper', made from Ice to Brienne of Tarth. A dagger used by an assassin in an attempt to kill Bran Stark was also made from Valyrian steel and had been lost in a bet by Petyr Baelish to Tyrion Lannister. As Mr Consell explained in the video: ‘In order to make "magic" steel we first need to know about real steel.' Steel is an alloy - a combination of metal with one or more other elements. It is mostly iron, but also includes carbon - up to about 2 per cent. A small change in the quantity of material in an alloy can dramatically change the properties of the end material. 'The characteristics of Valyrian steel can give us a lot of clues as to its composition,' continued Mr Consell. 'Strength and sharpness is going to require a bit of a balancing act. In order to hold an edge, a blade has to be really hard which is no problem for a high-carbon steel. 'The problem is the harder something is, the easier it will shatter, which is no good for a king slayer.' Mr Consell first looked into whether spring steel could be a contender for a modern, real-life version of Valyrian steel. It has 0.6% carbon, with silicon and manganese. This would provide a balance of properties including a sharp edge, but a spring steel sword couldn't handle high temperatures . He then moved onto the option of using air hardened steel. It is cooled off in the open air when it’s forged and doesn't lose its properties when heated up. Air hardened steel uses a 'cocktail of elements' but as Mr Consell added, Valyrian’s colour, pattern and weight make this option unlikely . He first looks into whether spring steel could be a contender for a modern, real-life version of Valyrian steel. It has 0.6 per cent carbon, with silicon and manganese. This would provide a balance of properties including a sharp edge, it would bend without breaking and be really hard to shatter. But a spring steel sword couldn't handle the high temperatures alluded to in the books. He then moved onto the option of using air hardened steel. It is cooled off in the open air when it’s forged and doesn't lose its properties when heated up. As an alternative, Mr Consell suggests Valyrian steel isn’t steel at all. Instead, the 'best possible match' might be a metal matrix composite. This is a modern super material with a metallic framework embedded with ceramics, and one of these could provide all of the extreme characteristics needed for Valyrian steel . He said itanium silicon carbide might be the 'perfect fit' because it has the strength, weight and colour needed for Valyrian steel. And if the matrix wasn’t  consistent, it might have swirls of grey running through the blade . Author George R.R. Martin was said to have been inspired by Damascus steel (pictured) steel used during the crusades in Europe . Air hardened steel uses a 'cocktail of elements' and as Mr Consell added, ‘you better believe it would require magic in the medieval world to get these materials working together.' But Valyrian’s colour, pattern and weight make this option unlikely. For example, steel can always be polished to a grey, but Valyrian is supposed to be nearly black. On top of that, the weight of steel can't be changed as it's mostly heavy iron. Additionally, Mr Consell said the patterns of Vlayrian steel suggest it has been pattern welded, and folded. 'This isn’t a sign of superb quality and strength, it’s actually a way of compensating for poor materials and trying to make a good steel out of two bad ones,' he said. 'If the folding is done correctly, you don’t have visible ripples so that’s kind of out.' As an alternative, Mr Consell suggests Valyrian steel isn’t steel at all. Instead, the 'best possible match' might be a metal matrix composite. 'This is a modern super material that has a metallic framework embedded with ceramics and one of these could provide all of the extreme characteristics needed for Valyrian steel,' he continued. 'A titanium silicon carbide might be the perfect fit. 'It has the strength, weight and colour needed for Valyrian steel and if the matrix wasn’t perfectly consistent, it might have swirls of grey running through the blade.' There is also the opinion that Valyrian is similar to Damascus steel. Mr Martin was said to have been inspired by the patterns and properties of the legendary Damascus steel used during the crusades in Europe across the 11th century for the books. It is made from iron ore steel called wootz and, like with the fictional Valyrian, the forging techniques used to make the distinctive blades were believed to have been lost in the mid-18th century.
highlights: In Game Of Thrones, Valyrian steel was forged during the Valyrian Freehold .
  It is said to be sharp, light, strong, heat resistant and dark with patterns .
  Scientist has studied which materials could create a similar, real life sword .
  And concludes it's not a steel at all, but is instead a metal matrix composite .
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