EDC Gear Materials

14C28N is a premium martensitic stainless chromium steel developed by Sandvik for applications demanding a superior combination of edge performance, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. Its optimized chemical composition typically includes approximately 0.62% Carbon (C), 14.0% Chromium (Cr), 0.11% Nitrogen (N), 0.2% Silicon (Si), and 0.2% Manganese (Mn). The carbon content contributes significantly to its high hardness and excellent edge retention, while the high chromium content, complemented by nitrogen, ensures outstanding corrosion resistance. The addition of nitrogen also promotes a fine grain structure and further enhances corrosion resistance. This steel is renowned for its ability to achieve a very fine, sharp edge and maintain it, coupled with good toughness for a steel of its hardness, making it highly versatile.

5Cr13MoV is a Chinese martensitic stainless steel, often considered a budget-friendly option for cutlery and tools. Its composition typically includes approximately 0.45-0.55% Carbon, 12.0-14.0% Chromium, 0.15-0.30% Molybdenum, and 0.10-0.20% Vanadium, along with smaller amounts of Manganese and Silicon. The high chromium content provides good corrosion resistance, while the carbon, molybdenum, and vanadium contribute to decent edge retention and wear resistance through the formation of carbides. It offers a good balance of properties for its cost, being relatively easy to sharpen and maintain, though its edge retention is not as high as premium steels. It is heat-treatable to achieve desired hardness levels.

9Cr18MoV is a high-carbon martensitic stainless steel, primarily developed in China. It is characterized by its excellent balance of properties, offering high hardness, good wear resistance, and strong corrosion resistance. The high chromium content (typically around 18%) forms a protective passive layer, while the significant carbon content (around 0.9%), along with additions of Molybdenum and Vanadium, contributes to its ability to achieve high hardness and maintain a sharp edge. Vanadium forms fine carbides that enhance wear resistance and grain refinement, and Molybdenum further improves corrosion resistance, particularly pitting resistance, and high-temperature strength. It is often considered a Chinese equivalent to steels like 440B or 440C, depending on the specific composition and heat treatment.

AEB-L is a high-carbon, low-chromium stainless steel, originally developed by Uddeholm (Sweden) for razor blades. It is renowned for its exceptionally fine grain structure and very small, evenly distributed carbides, which allow it to achieve and maintain an extremely keen and stable edge. This fine microstructure contributes to its excellent toughness for its hardness level, making it less prone to chipping compared to some other high-hardness steels. While its corrosion resistance is good, it is not as high as some super-stainless steels, requiring reasonable care. It is also known for being relatively easy to sharpen to a very high degree of polish.

AR-RPM9 is a proprietary spray-form stainless steel developed by Artisan Cutlery and CJRB, primarily engineered for knife blade applications. Although initially promoted with an emphasis on its 'nine elements' and powder metallurgy characteristics, it is essentially a spray-formed variant of 9Cr18MoV steel. This composition is closely related to 440C stainless steel but differentiates itself through its unique manufacturing process. The spray-forming technique yields a significantly finer and more uniform microstructure, characterized by smaller, rounder carbides compared to conventionally produced 9Cr18MoV or 440C. This microstructural refinement substantially enhances its toughness, making it more resistant to chipping, while simultaneously preserving excellent corrosion resistance and good edge retention. A key attribute of AR-RPM9 is its balanced performance profile – offering good toughness, high corrosion resistance, and relative ease of sharpening – all at an accessible price point, positioning it as a popular choice for value-oriented yet capable knives.

CPM S90V is a high-performance martensitic stainless steel produced by Crucible Industries, utilizing their proprietary Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process. This powder metallurgy process ensures a very fine and uniform distribution of its high alloy content, particularly its exceptionally high vanadium content (approximately 9%). This high vanadium forms a significant volume of extremely hard vanadium carbides within the steel matrix, which are the primary contributors to its unparalleled wear resistance and superior edge retention. It also contains a substantial amount of chromium (around 14%) providing significant corrosion resistance. While offering top-tier performance for demanding applications, its extreme hardness and high carbide volume make it notoriously difficult to grind, sharpen, and polish, often requiring diamond abrasives. Proper heat treatment is crucial to optimize its balance of hardness and toughness.

D2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel, known for its excellent wear resistance and good toughness. It is an air-hardening steel, meaning it can be hardened by cooling in air after austenitizing, which contributes to good dimensional stability during heat treatment. Its high chromium content (typically 11-13%) provides moderate corrosion resistance, superior to many other tool steels but not considered stainless. The high carbon content (typically 1.4-1.6%) combined with chromium forms a significant volume of hard carbides, which are responsible for its exceptional wear resistance. However, these carbides also make it somewhat difficult to machine and grind. It exhibits high compressive strength and retains a good cutting edge.

M390 is a premium martensitic chromium steel produced by Bohler-Uddeholm using a powder metallurgy process. It is renowned for its exceptional wear resistance, high hardness, and very good corrosion resistance, making it a 'super steel' in many applications. Its high chromium content contributes to its excellent corrosion resistance, while the high vanadium and carbon content provide superior wear resistance and edge retention. The powder metallurgy process ensures a fine, uniform grain structure, which enhances its toughness and grindability for a steel of its hardness and wear resistance.

Nitro-V is a nitrogen-enriched stainless steel developed by New Jersey Steel Baron (NJSB) in collaboration with Latrobe Specialty Steel. It is an evolution of AEB-L steel, with the primary additions being nitrogen and vanadium. The nitrogen content significantly enhances its strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance, while vanadium contributes to a fine grain structure and improved wear resistance. This combination results in a steel known for its excellent balance of properties: high corrosion resistance, good edge retention, and impressive toughness. It is also relatively easy to sharpen compared to many other high-performance stainless steels, making it a popular choice for various cutting tools.

CPM S35VN is a premium martensitic stainless steel produced by Crucible Industries using the Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process. This powder metallurgy technique results in a very fine and uniform carbide distribution, which significantly enhances the steel's properties. It was developed as an upgrade to S30V, offering improved toughness (approximately 15-20% greater) and easier grindability and polishing, while maintaining excellent wear resistance and edge retention. The addition of Niobium (Nb) contributes to a finer grain structure and improved toughness, while Vanadium (V) provides superior wear resistance and Chromium (Cr) ensures very good corrosion resistance. It strikes an excellent balance between toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, making it a highly sought-after material for high-performance cutting tools.

S45VN is a premium, high-performance martensitic stainless steel produced by Crucible Industries using the Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process. It was developed as an upgrade to S35VN and S30V, offering an optimized balance of properties. Its chemistry includes higher Niobium, Vanadium, and Carbon, with added Nitrogen and a slightly reduced Chromium content compared to S35VN. This composition results in superior toughness, enhanced edge retention, and improved corrosion resistance. The CPM process ensures a very fine and uniform carbide distribution, which contributes significantly to its excellent wear resistance and grindability, making it a highly desirable material for demanding applications.

Stainless steel is an iron alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content by mass. The chromium forms a passive layer of chromium oxide on the surface, which prevents further corrosion and gives the steel its 'stainless' properties. Other alloying elements like nickel, molybdenum, titanium, and manganese are added to enhance specific properties such as ductility, strength, and resistance to various forms of corrosion (e.g., pitting, crevice corrosion). It is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio, good formability, aesthetic appeal, and hygienic properties. There are several main families: Austenitic (e.g., 304, 316) known for ductility and corrosion resistance; Ferritic (e.g., 430) known for magnetic properties and moderate corrosion resistance; Martensitic (e.g., 410, 420) known for high strength and hardness after heat treatment; Duplex (e.g., 2205) combining properties of austenitic and ferritic steels for superior strength and corrosion resistance.

A6061-T6 is a precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy, part of the 6xxx series, which primarily contains magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements. The 'T6' temper indicates that the alloy has been solution heat-treated and artificially aged, resulting in significantly increased strength and hardness. It is renowned for its excellent combination of high strength-to-weight ratio, good weldability, and superior general corrosion resistance, particularly in atmospheric and marine environments. It also exhibits good machinability and moderate formability. This alloy is non-magnetic and has good thermal and electrical conductivity.

Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery-white, soft, non-magnetic, and ductile metal. It is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It forms a passive oxide layer when exposed to air, providing excellent natural corrosion resistance. It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and is highly recyclable. While pure aluminum is relatively soft, it is frequently alloyed with other elements (like copper, magnesium, silicon, zinc) to significantly increase its strength, making it suitable for structural applications.

Brass is a versatile alloy primarily composed of copper and zinc, with varying proportions that dictate its specific properties. It is highly valued for its excellent workability (malleability and ductility), good electrical and thermal conductivity, and attractive golden-yellow appearance. Brass exhibits good corrosion resistance, particularly to water and saline environments, making it suitable for marine applications. Its copper content also provides inherent antimicrobial properties. Minor additions of other elements like lead (to improve machinability), tin, manganese, or aluminum can further modify its characteristics, such as strength, color, and corrosion resistance.

G10 is a high-pressure fiberglass laminate, a type of composite material. It is manufactured by stacking multiple layers of glass cloth, saturating them with an epoxy resin, and then compressing the resulting material under high heat and pressure until the epoxy cures. This process yields an extremely dense, hard, and lightweight material with a distinctive layered appearance. Its cross-hatched fiber structure provides exceptional strength, impact resistance, and resistance to cracking or chipping. G10 exhibits excellent dielectric properties, making it an effective electrical insulator. It is highly resistant to moisture, chemicals, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring superior dimensional stability even in harsh environments. Its non-porous nature prevents the absorption of liquids and odors, contributing to its hygiene and ease of maintenance.

This entry describes a material system or component assembly utilizing both Grade 5 Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) and Bronze. Grade 5 Titanium is a high-strength alpha-beta titanium alloy known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance (especially to saltwater and many chemicals), and good biocompatibility. Bronze, a copper alloy (typically copper with tin, aluminum, or other elements), is valued for its superior wear resistance, low friction properties, and good corrosion resistance, particularly in marine environments. When combined, these materials leverage titanium's structural integrity, lightweight nature, and high corrosion resistance with bronze's bearing and wear characteristics, often in applications requiring both high performance and specific tribological properties.

Glass-Reinforced Nylon (GRN) is a high-performance thermoplastic composite material, typically consisting of a nylon (polyamide) polymer matrix reinforced with chopped glass fibers. The addition of glass fibers significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the base nylon, including tensile strength, flexural modulus, and dimensional stability. It exhibits a higher heat deflection temperature, reduced creep, and a lower coefficient of thermal expansion compared to unreinforced nylon. GRN maintains good chemical resistance to many oils, fuels, and solvents, and offers improved abrasion and fatigue resistance. Its excellent processability allows for complex part geometries through injection molding. The specific properties vary depending on the type of nylon (e.g., PA6, PA66) and the percentage of glass reinforcement (commonly 10% to 50%). While generally tougher than unreinforced nylon, high glass content can sometimes lead to increased brittleness in certain impact scenarios.

Ultem is a family of high-performance amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) resins, primarily manufactured by SABIC. It is distinguished by an exceptional combination of properties, making it suitable for demanding applications. Key characteristics include outstanding high-temperature performance with a high glass transition temperature (Tg typically ranging from 217°C to 230°C), high strength, excellent rigidity, and superior dimensional stability even under thermal cycling. It offers broad chemical resistance to a wide array of fluids, including automotive fluids, alcohols, and halogenated hydrocarbons, though it can be attacked by some highly polar solvents. Ultem possesses inherent flame retardancy, achieving a UL94 V-0 rating without the need for flame retardant additives, and exhibits low smoke generation. Its excellent electrical insulating properties are maintained across a wide temperature and frequency range. Furthermore, Ultem boasts exceptional hydrolytic stability, allowing for repeated steam sterilization cycles (autoclavability) without significant degradation of mechanical properties. While the base resin is a pure thermoplastic, it is often compounded with glass fibers (e.g., 10-40% glass fiber) or other fillers to further enhance specific mechanical properties like stiffness, tensile strength, and heat deflection temperature, forming high-performance composites. It is readily melt-processable via injection molding and extrusion. Its surface hardness is good for a plastic, typically measured on the Rockwell R scale, and it exhibits excellent resistance to creep.

Grade 2 titanium is the most widely used commercially pure (CP) titanium, often referred to as 'workhorse' titanium. It offers an excellent balance of moderate strength, good ductility, and superior corrosion resistance, particularly in oxidizing and mildly reducing environments, including seawater, chlorides, and various acids. It is highly weldable, formable, and possesses good impact toughness. Its non-magnetic nature and biocompatibility further expand its application range.

Grade 5 Titanium, also known as Ti-6Al-4V, is the most commonly used titanium alloy, accounting for over 50% of total titanium usage. It is an alpha-beta alloy containing 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. This alloy is renowned for its exceptional combination of high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance (especially to seawater, chlorides, and many acids), good fracture toughness, and superior fatigue strength. It is heat treatable, allowing for increased strength, and exhibits good biocompatibility, making it suitable for medical applications. While it offers outstanding performance, it is more expensive and generally more challenging to machine and form compared to many other engineering metals.

Titanium is a lustrous, silver-colored transition metal renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, superior corrosion resistance (particularly to seawater, chlorine, and various acids), and excellent biocompatibility. It possesses a low density and a high melting point, making it suitable for high-temperature applications. While commercially pure titanium is ductile and relatively soft, it is often alloyed with other elements like aluminum and vanadium to significantly enhance its mechanical properties, including strength, hardness, and creep resistance. Its primary drawbacks include its high cost and challenging machinability.

Titanium is a lustrous transition metal renowned for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, outstanding corrosion resistance (particularly to seawater, chlorine, and various acids), and excellent biocompatibility. It is non-magnetic, has a low thermal expansion coefficient, and maintains strength at elevated temperatures. While commercially pure titanium (Grades 1-4) is ductile, its alloys, such as Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), offer significantly higher tensile strength and hardness. 'Purple Snowflake Titanium' refers to titanium that has undergone a specialized surface treatment, typically through anodization or controlled heat coloring, to create a distinctive purple hue often accompanied by a unique, crystalline, or 'snowflake-like' pattern. This treatment is primarily aesthetic, enhancing the visual appeal of the material while largely preserving the underlying mechanical and corrosion-resistant properties of the base titanium.

Titanium alloys are metallic materials primarily composed of titanium and other chemical elements (e.g., aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum). They are renowned for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, superior corrosion resistance (especially to seawater, chlorine, and various acids), and excellent biocompatibility. These alloys maintain high strength at elevated temperatures and exhibit good fatigue and creep resistance. However, they are generally more expensive and challenging to machine compared to steel or aluminum, and have a lower modulus of elasticity than steel.

Steel is an iron alloy with a carbon content typically between 0.02% and 2.1% by weight. Its exceptional versatility stems from the ability to incorporate various alloying elements (e.g., manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium) and apply diverse heat treatments, which significantly alter its mechanical properties. It is renowned for its high tensile strength, good ductility (depending on type), and excellent workability. While mild steel is prone to corrosion (rusting), stainless steels, containing a minimum of 10.5% chromium, exhibit high resistance to oxidation and corrosion. Steel's density is approximately 7.85 g/cm³, and it possesses good thermal and electrical conductivity, though not as high as pure copper or aluminum. Its magnetic properties are also a key characteristic for many applications.