What is powder steel

Powder steels for blades

Recently, gunsmiths and knifemakers have noted a noticeable increase in interest specifically in the group of powder steels or, as they are also called, “ powders ”. Which is actually not surprising, since they are currently firmly entrenched in their position as leaders among materials for steel.

Perhaps the reason for this interest is that this type of steel and its varieties has repeatedly set world records, both in the ability to hold a cutting edge and in terms of resistance to various physical loads. In addition, this type has become popular among knife manufacturers, both middle and high class.

Powder steel manufacturing technology

Most of the steels, from which almost 90% of the blades presented on store shelves are currently produced, upon simplified consideration, have almost the same structure, mostly consisting of martensite and carbides. Residual austenite, non-metallic inclusions, etc. can also be added here.

It is no secret that the use of carbides in knife steel is due to the fact that the carbides themselves are harder and more brittle than the martensitic matrix, but at the same time they significantly increase the wear resistance of the steel and worsen (beyond a certain limit) the mechanical characteristics. The deterioration especially affected the strength and toughness indicators. In addition, the overall degree of reduction in “strength” properties directly depends on the parameters of the carbide phase.

Especially on its quantity, type, size of the carbides themselves and their clusters and the uniformity of their distribution in the overall structure.

It is worth noting the fact that well-defined carbide heterogeneity (this is the term used to characterize the “quality” of the carbide phase and its distribution) creates problems when grinding metal, and also increases the likelihood of the appearance of leads and cracks.

At the same time, knifemakers are well aware that steels containing a large number of large and unevenly distributed carbides are much less susceptible to hot deformation, and, starting with a certain degree of carbide heterogeneity, the material almost completely stops deforming under normal conditions.

Based on the above aspects, when creating a knife, craftsmen find themselves in a kind of vicious circle - to increase durability, they need to increase the amount of the carbide phase, but at the same time, in order to maintain the required mechanical characteristics, they have to reduce its amount and improve its distribution.

Due to the fact that the amount and type of carbide phase directly depend on the composition of the steel, which is based on the carbon content and the amount and type of alloying elements, in “classical” grades of knife steel there is a certain alloying limit, upon reaching which the steel still has a minimum acceptable mechanical and technological properties.

And accordingly, there is a limit to the durability characteristics.

All the pros and cons of powder steels

We looked at what lies behind such an unusual name “powder steel” in the first part of this article, but now it’s worth summing up and trying to briefly write down all the positive and negative aspects of powder steels.

The advantages of powder steels include:

• Flexibility . Indeed, due to its small size and distribution of carbides as close to ideal as possible, in this type of steel it is possible to significantly increase the degree of alloying, which will lead to an increase in its resistance properties.
• Mechanics . For the same reasons, with a reasonable approach to limiting the amount of carbide phase, a noticeable improvement in mechanical properties can be achieved.
• Grinding . Due to the fact that powder steel contains small, evenly distributed carbides, they are much more amenable to grinding and forging.
• Hardening . During the hardening process, powder steel receives a more saturated solid solution, finer and more uniform grain. As a result, there is an increase in its hardness, heat resistance, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
• Manufacturing . Powder technology makes it quite easy to produce high-nitrogen steels using solid-phase nitriding methods.
• Application . Powder steels can easily be used to create materials using mechanical alloying methods (carbide steels, cermets, DUO steels).

With a rather impressive list of advantages, like everything in this world, powder steel also has some disadvantages:

• Powder processing expands, but does not eliminate alloying limits. For example, if such steel does not have eutectic carbides in its structure, then its powder processing does not make sense and most often leads to some deterioration in properties.
• Powder processing steels contain a larger amount of non-metallic inclusions, however, recently, thanks to the efforts of scientists, this factor has already been successfully combated.
• Powder grade steel is noticeably more expensive. In addition, their successful production requires expensive special equipment, and there are also restrictions on the maximum size of workpieces.

It is necessary to understand that powder processing is not a magic wand. It solves one problem - combating carbide heterogeneity. It is most appropriate to produce high-alloy steels (for example, high-speed or corrosion-resistant) by this method, where the improvement in durability, mechanical and technological properties compensates for the increase in cost.

Today, the blades of almost 90% of knife products of various brands are made of powder steel.

Next, consider powdered stainless steels

1. CPM 154 Powder version of steel 154CM (ATS 34) and an almost complete analogue of RWL-34 steel. It differs from “simple” 154 in better mechanics (higher strength and toughness) and slightly better grindability. One of the most popular steels for mid-range knives. The potential of this steel is revealed during maintenance for secondary hardness (62-63 HRc), which, unfortunately, most manufacturers do not do due to technological complexity and poorer corrosion resistance.

2. CPM S30V In fact, it has become a kind of “gold standard” for serial and designer knives of the middle and high class.

Unfortunately, most manufacturers process it to a hardness of 58-60 HRc (calculated for an unskilled user, and for technological reasons), at which it demonstrates average RC resistance and cutting aggressiveness.

The potential of this steel is fully revealed when heat treated to a hardness of 61-62HRc, at which it demonstrates a hardness resistance approximately 50% higher than at 59 HRc.

3. CPM S35VN Restyled version of the “thirty”. A special feature of this steel is alloying with niobium, which is becoming a fashionable trend and provides slightly better mechanics. The steel feels completely consistent with CPM S30V and is in the same niche with it.

4. CPM S90V At the moment, a veteran of the model range, but not inferior to its position. The steel contains primary vanadium carbides, which somewhat limits the mechanics, but theoretically has high wear resistance. In practice, it is limited to a noticeable extent by the maximum achievable hardness (often 59-60 HRc) at which the resistance of RC does not exceed S30V at 62 HRc.

5. CPM S125 Even more vanadium, even higher wear resistance and worse mechanics. However, during normal use, steel is no different from others. This steel is periodically used by some companies and craftsmen, often with low-hardness processing, which defeats the purpose of the idea.

6. CPM S110V Leader of the model range. A carbide monster combining a huge amount of hard carbides with high hardness (up to HRc 64). A feature of the alloying is a very large amount of niobium (in my opinion, unnecessarily large, NbC eutectic is present in the steel structure) and the addition of cobalt, which increases the secondary hardness.

Despite the high hardness and large amount of carbide phase, steel has good properties. characteristics. The resistance of the RC is at the level of leaders; among “stainless steel” only Vanax 75 can compete. Everything seemed fine. But not really. A special feature of this steel is its very non-aggressive cutting. That is, it is not bad for a “regular” knife, but something completely different is expected from a premium product (and steel).

The problem is partially solved by thin geometry and special sharpening, but this is precisely what prevents us from calling 110 our favorite stainless steel.

Perhaps it’s worth remembering the CPM S60 (CPM 440V), with which it all began. The steel is no longer produced, but is sometimes still found on the market. Insufficient hardness on most products prevents the potential of this steel from being realized. Currently, it is better to prefer S30-S35 or S90.

Source: https://knife-mag.ru/publ/stati_o_nojah/poroshkovye_stali_dlja_klinkov/1-1-0-116

Premium powder steels

When choosing a hunting, kitchen, tourist or any other knife, first of all you need to pay attention to the grade of steel from which the blade is made. It is the type of metal that determines the operational properties of the knife, ease of use, speed and sharpness of the cut, and durability.

 Everyone knows that steel is an alloy of iron, carbon and special alloying inclusions that improve the basic characteristics of the blade material:

• hardness;
• rigidity;
• corrosion resistance;
• resistance to abrasive and adhesive wear;
• ability to maintain sharpness for a long time.

For centuries, man has tried unsuccessfully to achieve the optimal balance of all these qualities in one type of steel.

 A blade that is too rigid, which copes well with dynamic loads and bending loads, can quickly become dull. A hard knife, which maintains a sharp cut in any conditions, often cracks from a strong side impact or fall. Even multilayer Damascus and damask steels, which are resistant to any physical influences, have their own pronounced chemical weakness and, if not properly maintained, become a “victim” of corrosion.

Only very recently, all the failures of the direct search for the optimal knife steel were more than compensated for by accidental discoveries within the framework of powder metallurgy.

History of Powder Steel

Powder metallurgy, which is characterized by vacuum pressing and sintering of products under pressure, was called upon to replace mechanical processing of metal, as a cheaper alternative for the production of mass consumer products.

The most famous achievement of this industry can be considered the creation of a successful variation of the aluminum-silicon alloy, which we know as silumin. Silumin is not afraid of corrosion, is plastic, lightweight, and in terms of mechanical strength it is only a few points inferior to steel. Nowadays, in almost every home you can find silumin products, from pipeline fittings and faucets to dishes.

Silicon carbide (carborundum) is one of the most effective abrasives. Even primitive people, not even suspecting the existence of chemistry and physics, appreciated the abrasive and cutting properties of silicon and it was from it that the very first, although fragile, but very sharp knives were made.  

Millions of years have passed since those ancient times; blades are now made from the best types of steel, but in terms of the cutting principle they are not much different from the primitive knives of the Paleolithic.

It is the presence of carbide-forming elements in the metal (tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, vanadium) that increase the mechanical properties of the knife, provide a sharp cut and allow it to be sharpened for a long time.

On the other hand, carbide compounds remain fragile, and their excess, too large grain size or uneven distribution in the metal structure cause the blade to lose overall strength and toughness, become susceptible to chips and cracks, and cannot withstand significant bending loads.

It is quite logical that the success of silumin, in which it was possible to evenly distribute aluminum molecules, silicon carbides and non-metallic inclusions , served as a powerful incentive for the use of powder technology to create a unique type of steel.

And very soon the first powder steels with a distribution of carbides close to ideal began to be used for the manufacture of knife products with improved physical and mechanical properties.

Powder steel grades

The process of making steel “powder” is quite intensive and high-tech. To prepare the composition of the powder alloy, it is first optimized to remove excess insoluble carbide compounds. This is followed by the stage of microalloying the alloy using carbide formers with their further plastic deformation to reduce the grain size and more uniform distribution in the metal structure.

Once the alloy is ready, it is sprayed into microparticles, placed in a vacuum mold and processed under high pressure. The formed workpiece can be subjected to high-temperature sintering while simultaneously exposed to pressure of several hundred atmospheres.

Depending on the characteristics of the technology, type, quantity and specific gravity of alloying additives, powder steel is produced in four quality classes:

• low class;
• middle class;
• "High End";
• premium

The highest quality, unpretentious, durable and wear-resistant blades are made from premium powder steel.

Where to Buy High Quality Powder Steel Knives

The KnivesExpress online store offers profitable purchases of premium steel powder steel knives Elmax and Bohler M390 (hunting, tourist, kitchen) with delivery throughout Russia and the CIS. Our certified products fully comply with the requirements of GOST R 51644-2000 (cutting and skinning knives) and do not belong to the category of edged weapons.

Bohler M390 powder steel knives

The Austrian company Bohler is a world leader in the production of tool, special and powder steels. Its product range includes dozens of alloy grades, among which M390 powder steel stands out for its exceptional performance properties.

According to most foreign and domestic experts, M390 steel is one of the best materials for making high-quality knives. Such blades are well polished and have high corrosion resistance due to their significant chromium content (20%).  

“Big Claw” knife with a drop-point drop-point blade and a handle made of Karelian birch and black hornbeam

The alloy also contains 0.6% tungsten, 1% molybdenum and 4% vanadium, which form carbides of high and very high hardness, giving the blade excellent strength and abrasive wear resistance without reducing the rigidity characteristics.

Knife "Yakut" with a clip-point edge and a wooden handle with finger grooves

Powder steel Bohler M390 is quite difficult and takes a long time to sharpen, but at the same time it amazingly maintains a cutting edge even under constant “hard” use.

Universal knife “Raccoon” with a straight “finka” blade, S -shaped guard and collapsible handle

Today, blades made from Austrian powder steel Bohler can rightfully be considered the “gold standard” of knife making. One of the few competitors that can match M390 alloy is Elmex powder steel.

Elmax powder steel knives

Elmax tool powder steel, developed by the Swedish company Uddenholm, is the predecessor of the Bohler M390 alloy and also has exceptional mechanical, physical and performance properties.

Knife “Foundling” with a short blade based on the legendary Finnish knives “Puukko”

Elmex premium powder steel is a stainless alloy due to the content of almost 18% chromium alloying additives. Excellent strength, dimensional stability and super-durability of the cutting edge are achieved by adding 3% vanadium, 1% molybdenum and 0.1% tungsten to the steel structure.

Knife "Sibiryak" with a narrow fuller at the butt and a spear-shaped tip

The reduced tungsten content somewhat worsens the balance of cutting edge durability, but at the same time ensures ease of sharpening.

Knife "Bekas" with a clip-point blade ("Bowie") and a Karelian birch handle

Elmax stainless steel is one of the most sought-after materials for high-quality knives, is highly polished and has the full range of mechanical properties necessary for a durable, reliable and always sharp knife.

Source: https://express-knife.ru/blog/poroshkovye-stali-premium-klassa

Characteristics of elmax steel

Among the metal alloys intended for the manufacture of knives, the elmax steel grade stands out. This is a patented name for a material of a certain composition obtained by powder metallurgy.

The elmax registered steel was originally manufactured in Sweden by UDDEHOLM AG (Uddenholm Corporation).

Today, taking into account the spread of franchising and the popularity of powder technology, licensed production in other countries is not excluded.

What is powder metallurgy

When heated and simultaneously compressed, two pieces of metal are deformed and brought so close together that the atoms of their surface layers begin to interact with each other. Under certain conditions, the boundary between them disappears and two separate pieces become one.

If, instead of large pieces, you take fine metal powder and compress it at high temperature, the individual particles will sinter to form one mass. Depending on the shape of the container in which compression occurs, you can obtain a semi-finished product or a finished part.

Advantages of powder steels

In the traditional steel production process (open hearth, converter, etc.), cooling and solidification of a melt of a certain composition occurs. Crystallization is accompanied by the formation of metal grains, the size and structure of which depend on the temperature change regime.

Usually, in order to obtain the specified properties of steel, it is necessary to carefully control the time-temperature regime or carry out final heat treatment of the finished part.

Only careful observance of all subtleties can guarantee the desired distribution of cementite and intermetallic inclusions.

elmax powder steel is free from this drawback, because The volumetric distribution of the included components is predetermined by the particle size of the metal powder. The growth of crystals and intermetallic compounds is limited by “powder particles”. The precipitated compounds are of the same size and are evenly distributed throughout the mass of the material.

Composition and properties 

The elmax brand is high-carbon, high-alloy.

It contains the following quantities (in percentage):

• carbon - 1.72,
• chrome – 17.8,
• vanadium – 2.99,
• molybdenum – 0.99,
• silicon – 0.8,
• manganese - 0.27,
• nickel – 0.15,
• tungsten – 0.11.

Based on the data presented, we can conclude that elmax steel has high hardenability, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and excellent cutting properties.

Due to its powder origin, it has evenly distributed fine grains, and excessive growth of intermetallic inclusions is excluded. Therefore, elmax has good ductility and is not afraid of impacts.

Mechanical and chemical properties of elmax steel

Products made from elmax are hardened to a hardness of 58-62 on the Rockwell scale. At the same time, they have impact strength and elasticity.

The high percentage of chromium gives excellent corrosion resistance. It should be borne in mind that in order to achieve high anti-corrosion performance, parts made of elmax steel should be carefully ground or polished. Otherwise, oxides may form along the grain boundaries.

Application of elmax steel

Advantages and disadvantages

The elmax brand is widely known as a knife brand. Blades made from it have excellent cutting ability, corrosion resistance, and a wear-resistant blade. According to reviews, it sharpens well, which is strange given the high hardness.

Blades made from steels smelted by traditional methods with a similar chemical composition and strength characteristics of about 60 Rockwell units are not recommended for use as camping or hunting knives. Far from civilization, using only an emery block, it is extremely difficult to restore the sharpness of the blade. Apparently ceramic origin plays a role.

Another disadvantage of elmax is its very high cost.

The third defect - the possibility of surface corrosion with penetration into the grain - can be prevented by periodically polishing the surface of the blade.

Although elmax steel is considered a knife grade, it is extremely unreasonable to limit its use only to the manufacture of blades. Excellent strength, thermal and anti-corrosion properties are used in critical parts operating in high temperatures and aggressive environments. These are turbine blades, bearing bushings, etc.

Elmax analogs 

At the end of the article, we will provide information about elmax steel analogues - powder steels similar in composition and performance characteristics to the Swedish brand.

Among the alloys produced by powder metallurgy, the following grades have a similar chemical composition (1.5-2% carbon and 14-20% chromium) and a hardness of about HRC60: CPM 20CV (Duratech CV20), CPM S90V (420V), M390, CTS-XHP and others.

You should not expect complete similarity of analogues with elmax, since each company keeps the exact composition and production technology secret, and if they are published, then they are protected by a patent from copying by competitors.

Nevertheless, through the efforts of development engineers, the results achieved are quite close and it is possible to replace one grade with another from a list of steels similar to elmax without much loss.

Source: https://prompriem.ru/stati/elmax.html

High speed powder steel

Powder metallurgy technology became widespread in the mid-twentieth century. It allows us to produce products of a wide variety of designs (purposes), characterized by strength, resistance to deformation and thermal effects.

Over time, powder metallurgy methods have improved; they have combined the main methods of producing products from metal powders, as well as their compositions.

The technological process for creating tools using high-speed steel powder was developed back in the 60s of the last century, but already in the 70s such products began to appear on the public market and have proven themselves well.

This was explained by the fact that powder metallurgy technology has made it possible to create metal products with predetermined properties and characteristics that cannot be achieved using traditional solid casting methods.

Products made from high-speed powder steel are wear-resistant. Compared to carbide cutting tools, they are more effective when performing large stock removal operations in intermittent cutting conditions, and they are also successfully used for processing associated with significant loads and cyclic temperature changes. Products made from high-speed powder steel are economical and demonstrate high productivity.

The main characteristics of the production of high-speed powder steel products

The production of products includes several technological processes, namely:

• preparing the mixture (mixing components depending on the required characteristics);
• molding;
• sintering;
• calibration and additional operations: impregnation with lubricants, chemical (mechanical, thermal) effects.

At the first stage, carbides of refractory metals such as vanadium and molybdenum, as well as steel base powders, are thoroughly mixed. Carbides provide characteristic wear resistance properties. They are evenly distributed in the prepared powder mixture, and the tools obtained from it successfully replace similar carbide products.

Extremely precise compliance with the proportions of components and the requirements of technological processes ensures the success of production. For example, exceeding the concentration of carbides leads to the formation of their characteristic accumulations, which have a detrimental effect on the strength indicators of the finished product and are sites for the initiation of cracks. Such carbide accumulations can form areas with a diameter of up to several tens of millimeters.

The product is formed by pressing. The powder mass is distributed into a cavity of a special shape, and then formed under high pressure, giving the workpiece the required shape and size.

Sintering allows not only to maintain the homogeneity of the material structure, but also to increase its shrinkage and density, and improve grain contact. The molding of products from high-speed powder steel is carried out using certain melting techniques that have their own characteristics.

An incorrectly performed procedure leads to oxidation of metals and the formation of inhomogeneities in the powder mass, which subsequently significantly reduce the strength of the finished product.

To avoid an oxidation reaction, the sintering stage is performed under reducing conditions, often using an atmosphere of neutral gases argon and nitrogen. A vacuum environment is also used, filling the atmosphere with hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This technological process is also called hot isostatic pressing. Upon completion, the workpiece becomes monolithic, and the powder material composing it becomes homogeneous.

To ensure that the product accurately fits its dimensions, it is calibrated, thus increasing its strength and improving the quality characteristics of the surface. If necessary, the finished product can be subjected to various methods of mechanical modification, in particular grinding, impregnation with technical lubricants, as well as chemical and thermal effects.

Features of grinding products made of high-speed powder steel

In most cases, the finished product made of high-speed powder steel can be machined by grinding. The effectiveness of this procedure depends on the ratio of the components of the mixture and the content of molybdenum (vanadium) carbides in it. Carbide elements have high hardness, and in comparison with aluminum oxide, which is used to make grinding wheels, they are more resistant to mechanical stress.

When grinding products made from conventional powder steel, grinding wheels wear out quickly, and mechanical processing is the most labor-intensive process, taking a lot of time.

At the same time, in products made from high-speed powder steel, carbides are distributed evenly and uniformly in the structure of the material, which significantly increases machining productivity.

Grinding products made from high-speed powder steel does not require a lot of time.

Advantages and disadvantages of high speed powder steel

The main advantages of high-speed powder steel are wear resistance and strength. This is due to the uniform distribution of molybdenum (vanadium) carbides in the structure of the finished product material, which makes it more resistant to mechanical and thermal stress. When performing machining operations involving impact, as well as when removing large stock, there is no better tool than one made from this powder material.

Conventional powder steel contains about 2% high-hardness carbides in the structure of its material, and for a product made of high-speed powder steel this figure is already more than 6%. At the same time, the content of carbides with average hardness properties in both products fluctuates around 8% of the total powder mass used in production.

However, products made from high-speed powder steel also have a disadvantage - high cost: the cost of sintering in a reducing environment, as well as the need to use high-quality and pure compositions of metal powders. However, such increased costs are fully compensated by the ease of processing and less labor intensive calibration.

Basic comparative characteristics of carbide products and those made of high-speed powder steel

For products made from high-speed powder steel, there is only one competitor - carbide products. It is also characterized by high wear resistance, but at the same time it is also highly brittle. Carbide tools are rarely used for impact machining and large stock removal and are ineffective for these purposes.

Tools made from high-speed powder steel, due to their strength, are most effective for impact machining. They also demonstrate their properties best when performing threading and milling operations.

When manufacturing products from hard alloys, the use of innovative technologies is not required, since the process of producing hard alloy products is quite simple. At the same time, the production of products from high-speed powder steel includes electroslag remelting - a procedure for cleaning the powder mixture from harmful impurities. This not only improves the quality of the material itself, but also increases the resistance of the finished product to the coloring effect.

Products made from high-speed powder steel are characterized by the highest concentration of metal carbides, which ensure the wear resistance of the product. This was achieved due to the high uniformity of distribution of components in the finished mixture. Carbide tools do not have this property. For example, the total concentration of carbides in high-speed powder steel is 14%, and in a hard alloy - about 4%.

Unfortunately, some unscrupulous manufacturers of tools made from high-speed powder steel, in order to save money, significantly reduce the concentration of carbides and do not use electroslag remelting technology. In this regard, the main advantages of a powder product over a hard alloy remain invisible to the consumer. In order to use tools most effectively, you should purchase quality tools from trusted manufacturers and suppliers.

Powder metallurgy technology has redefined the capabilities of high-speed powder steel.

The use of basic techniques for shaping the mixture along with its purification from impurities made it possible to produce high-quality tools with high efficiency indicators with minimal energy and material consumption.

The ability to simulate the special properties and characteristics of the finished product has placed high-speed powder steel significantly above carbide products.

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Source: https://metalloobrabotka-zakazat.ru/article/bystrorezhushhaya-poroshkovaya-stal/

Powder steel for knives: characteristics, pros and cons

At the end of the 60s of the last century, the powder manufacturing method became widespread in our country and abroad. Currently, this is an advanced industry that makes it possible to create unique alloys with unique properties using modern, highly efficient technologies.

This brings significant savings in raw materials and reduces material costs, due to the use of metallurgical waste as a basis: scraps, shavings, scale, wire, which are no longer used anywhere.

Features of powder technologies

Powdered steels are classified as carbon alloying stainless steels. They have different compositions, but they are united by a large percentage of carbon (C), as one of the main elements that adds strength, and chromium (Cr), which heads the list of alloying components.

The technological process for manufacturing powder steels has its pros and cons. The advantages include the following properties:

• due to the use of small-sized raw materials, an almost ideal distribution of carbides in the structure occurs, which increases the durability of the alloy;
• the ability to regulate the phase of adding carbides significantly improves mechanical characteristics;
• powder alloys lend themselves perfectly to processing: forging and grinding;
• hardening increases hardness, heat resistance, and anti-corrosion properties;
• The production process is waste-free.

The disadvantages of powder technology include:

• a large number of non-metallic inclusions in the finished billet ingot;
• high cost.

Other disadvantages relate to the peculiarities of the technology, the intricacies of which are preferred by specialists. To an ordinary person not directly involved in production, their listing will not mean anything.

Where are steels used?

The structure of powder alloys has confirmed its positive technical characteristics, therefore they are classified as high-speed alloys and are widely used in the production of tools intended for metal cutting. The inclusion of an increased amount of alloying components makes it possible to ensure the necessary properties obtained during the technological process.

Excellent material for knife making

Knifemakers also appreciate the high performance and properties of powder-coated steels and use them to make blades for edged weapons and knives for various purposes. They liked the possibilities of alloys that allow them to make excellent blades:

• they perfectly “hold” the cutting edge and retain their sharpness for a long time;
• resistant to various mechanical loads;
• characterized by increased hardness;
• have corrosion resistance;
• demonstrate excellent resistance to abrasive and adhesive wear.

Using the advantages of premium and middle class types of powder steels, specialists produce high-quality, strong and durable cutting tools. In the online store KavkazSuvenir by Ali Askerov you can purchase excellent knives made of powder steel with comfortable handles made of valuable wood and covers made of genuine leather.

How to make a blade

To obtain a sharp and durable knife blade, the steel goes through several procedures. After the metal powder is prepared, it is sprayed. The result is micro-ingots consisting of individual metal particles. The resulting “blanks” are further processed only if the need arises.

They are then transferred to a vacuum mold where they are pressed under high pressure, followed by a procedure called sintering. It occurs at a significant increase in temperature and pressure, increased to several hundred atmospheres. At this point, the manufacturing process is completed, and the craftsmen prepare a handle for it and, if provided, decorate the blade with ornaments.

Elmax powder steel is one of the most popular

Various alloys are used to make knives. Among the most popular is Elmax powder steel, which belongs to the premium class. It is used for the production of kitchen and cutting knives.

The best properties of Elmax

Powder steel knives have high technical characteristics. They are characterized by excellent cutting ability, wear resistance and good corrosion resistance. It makes excellent blades, durable, easy to use, and not afraid of blows.

They have high impact strength, which increases resistance to dynamic (impact) loads and destruction of the product. They are characterized by elasticity, which retains the properties of the material under mechanical stress. Hunting knives made of Elmax steel can be purchased in the KavkazSuvenir online store.

Sharpening features

Despite the many advantages of steel, experts point out some difficulties in using the finished product. In particular, powder knives made from such alloys will not be so easy to sharpen. To do this, it is better to give it to specialists, because the blade is quite hard, and inept sharpening can lead to chipping and the appearance of unevenness and microchips.

A quality knife is a great gift

Being quite expensive, powder steels are often used to make gift and collectible knives, as well as souvenir edged weapons. However, this does not mean that they can only be purchased for collection.  

High corrosion resistance allows products made from such alloys to be classified as stainless, which makes it possible to produce knives for hunting, fishing, tourism, and kitchen work.

A wide selection of stainless steel knives of different brands for various purposes is presented in the catalog of the online store KavkazSuvenir by Ali Askerov.

A cutting tool made of powder steel will last a long time and will become a reliable assistant to its owner.

You might be interested in

Source: https://kavkazsuvenir.ru/blog/poroshkovaya-stal-dlya-nozhej-harakteristiki-plyusy-i-minusy

Powder steel for knives

› Steel

01.12.2019

Nowadays, you can increasingly see the term “powder steel” in the description of knives. In this article we will tell you what this new material is and whether a knife made from it will be stronger and more durable than the steel we are used to. To do this, you will need to study the technology of the manufacturing process and the history of the origin of this alloy.

Story

The first to make it were the Indians. At the end of the 7th century BC, they made an iron column from powder steel. It weighed almost 6 tons and was about 7 meters long. What is most interesting is that this column has been perfectly preserved to this day! However, this technology began to be widely used only in the 60s of the 20th century. In the USA they tried to increase hardness by introducing alloying additives.

Composition and properties of a powder steel knife

There are different types of alloys used for powder steel knives. The characteristics of each particular knife will depend on what metals are in the composition.

Types of additives:

Metal	Properties
Molybdenum	Molybdenum makes the knife strong and resistant to heat. Knife brands from Japan typically contain up to 8% molybdenum. This is one of the reasons why Japanese blades are famous for their high quality.
Chromium	Affects wear resistance and hardness, but reduces strength. Such knives are resistant to corrosion and do not require frequent sharpening. Steel containing 13% or more chromium is called stainless steel. However, it also requires care.
Vanadium	Affects wear resistance and hardness, but reduces strength.
Molybdenum	Affects wear resistance and hardness. Makes the alloy more viscous and durable.
Nickel	Affects wear resistance and hardness.
Silicon	Affects wear resistance and hardness.
Tungsten	Increases hardness but reduces strength.
Manganese	Makes knives stronger, tougher, and increases the wear resistance of steel. They make the alloy structure granular. Almost all knife alloys contain it.
Nickel	Makes the alloy more viscous, harder, and provides anti-corrosion properties. For example, AUS-6, AUS-8, L-6.
Silicon	Promotes knife strength.

In order to dive deeper into this topic, we will need to understand the composition of modern steel.

So, at present, most steels (according to technical requirements) have the structure:

Diagram of the structure of most steels.

martensite + carbides (+ retained austenite + non-metallic inclusions, etc.).

Let's look at each of these particles:

Carbides are hard, but break easily. They are larger than other particles and therefore poorly distributed between them.

Because of this, the strength of the product may suffer.

Martensite is lighter and stronger than carbide, but more malleable than carbides.

Powder steel for knives: pros and cons

Powder steel has not only significant advantages, but also some disadvantages. Let's look at them:

1. Expensive production. Creating powdered steel requires more complex and expensive equipment. It is impossible to repeat the entire multi-stage technology on conventional machines.
2. High price of finished products. This, in turn, follows from the cost of production.
3. Difficult to sharpen. Due to the fact that the output is a very strong metal, it becomes difficult to remove the top layer from it. A regular knife sharpener is unlikely to cope with this task.

More advantages:

1. Flexibility.
2. Strength.
3. Accuracy.
4. Durability. Their flexibility, strength, precision and durability are many times superior to conventional steel.
5. Environmental friendliness. The production of such knives is waste-free, there is no excess metal residue.

Types of powder alloys for making knives

Based on the purpose of the knife, select the appropriate steel.

There are 4 classes of powder steel: premium, high end, middle and low class.

We suggest taking a closer look at the two classes.

Premium class

View	Description
CPM S30V	This alloy is produced in the USA. Nowadays, expensive premium knives are made from it. These are mainly hunting knives that have increased wear resistance, at the same time, the blades are well sharpened.
M390	This is one of the most modern alloys. It contains chromium and vanadium. This type of premium alloy does not rust, is extremely wear-resistant, and does not corrode easily.
CPM S35VN	This alloy contains niobium and an advanced fine powder. It is based on the S30V. This steel is very durable and sharpens well.
Elmax	A very popular alloy from Europe. It contains molybdenum, vanadium, and chromium. A knife made of this alloy sharpens well and resists corrosion.
ZDP-189	A Japanese alloy that has high hardness and high ductility. Blades made from this steel can be easily polished and cut very well.

High end

Now let's look at the varieties of high-end powder steel metals. From English “high-end” is translated as “highest class”. Knives in this category are considered the best among the non-premium category. As a hunting product, such a product is slightly inferior to premium knives, but for inexperienced owners, such steel will be an excellent purchase.

1. Made in the USA, resists corrosion and sharpens well. It is very similar to the CPM S35VN, but the characteristics are a little more modest.
2. ATS-34. Alloy made in Japan, similar in properties to 154CM. It is often used for professional knives. It sharpens very well and has anti-corrosion properties.
3. D-2. This steel has a low chromium content. Because of this, it rusts, but this alloy is harder and more wear-resistant than its 154CM and ATS-34 counterparts.
4. VG-10. A Japanese alloy that contains vanadium and chromium. This makes it stronger than the 154CM, ATS-34 and D-2. Its main disadvantage is that it requires frequent sharpening.

Folding Knife 8CR18MOVblade made of high end steel.

Mechanical and chemical properties of Elmax steel

Having considered the relationship between composition and characteristics, we can highlight the Elmax alloy.

It contains molybdenum, vanadium, chromium.

Thanks to this, the blade sharpens well and does not corrode for a long time. This steel is very clean, as it does not contain phosphorus and sulfur, which degrade the quality of the alloy.

Chromium is 17.8%, carbon is 1.72%, so Elmax is classified as high-carbon. Alloying elements are:

• vanadium, it increases hardness and strength;
• silicon helps maintain viscosity;
• molybdenum increases elasticity and helps resist corrosion and oxidation resistance at high temperatures;
• nickel makes knives more flexible and also resists corrosion;
• tungsten makes products less fragile;
• magnesium also improves product performance.

Knives made from Elmax alloy are great for the kitchen; interaction with moisture does not impair their properties.

Knife Uzbek-3 (powder steel ELMAX).

How knives are made from powder steel

The process of making knives from powder steel includes several stages:

1. The material is pulverized into tiny ingots.
2. If necessary, the alloy is processed in a special way.
3. The metal powder is placed in a vacuum mold.
4. Pressing occurs under high pressure.
5. Next, solid-phase or two-phase sintering is carried out under the influence of high temperature and pressure.

Next, the handle is created, the blade itself can be decorated.

How to sharpen a powder steel knife

One of the disadvantages of powder steel is, undoubtedly, the difficulty of sharpening it. In an ordinary kitchen, it is very difficult to sharpen a knife without causing unevenness and the smallest chips. This requires special equipment. The easiest way is to contact a workshop that specializes in this.

Convenience and ease of use

Convenience and simplicity are the greatest strengths of powder steel knives. They are very sharp and do not dull for a long time.

Their excellent properties allow them to be used even in hunting, fishing and in specialized military equipment.

Cheap analogs of Elmax

Without a doubt, Elmax is the best choice, especially for the kitchen. However, there are cheaper analogues. These are Beta-ti Alloy, Blue Paper Super alloys. For their production, lower quality powder steel is used. If the budget is limited, then such alloys will also be a good option.

So, we can conclude that powder steel is superior in its characteristics to conventional steel. However, the complexity of its manufacture entails a high price, which, however, it justifies.

The best alloy choice for a powder steel knife is Elmax. If your budget is limited, then you can opt for cheaper analogues that can even be used in the kitchen.

Powder steel for knives Link to main publication

Source: https://VashNozh.ru/stal/poroshkovaya-stal-dlya-nozhej

Elmax powder steel knives

Any person interested in knives has heard at least once about the exceptionally positive properties of powder steels and knives made from it. And taking into account the banal ignorance, it is very easy to believe in such a thing.

It is worth remembering how several centuries ago rumor attributed amazing strength, razor sharpness and a whole range of other qualities to blades made of Damascus steel, which in fact turned out to be greatly exaggerated.

In order to prevent this from happening, let’s briefly but informatively study what powder metallurgy is, consider at least one, but very illustrative example of steel produced by this method, and also find out whether a knife made from powder steel is really that good.

Powder steel

What is it? As promised above, we will only briefly describe the main stages of manufacturing a powder alloy, so that you can understand the main essence of this process as a whole.

As the name suggests, the technology involves the use of various powders as raw materials. In particular, powders of steels, including high-alloy steels, carbides, as well as chemical elements that are intended to become alloying are used.

The powders are placed in the mold and mixed until all the elements are evenly distributed. However, for the production of knife steel, manufacturers can afford not uniform, but zonal distribution of various components. For example, the outer layer of a steel billet can be slightly more saturated with chromium than the rest of it, which will significantly increase the corrosion resistance of the product.

Next, the mold is pressed and sintered in ovens without access to oxygen. At this stage, scattered grains of sand turn into a single material.

Elmax steel

Above is the promised example of a powder metallurgy product. And, it seems to us, Elmax, one of the most common powder steels, is perfect for this role. Therefore, in order to roughly understand what miracles a knife made from “powder” is capable of, it will be enough to study the characteristics of Elmax steel.

The main factor influencing the characteristics of any steel, and therefore a knife made from it, is the alloy. It is the chemical elements in the composition of steel that give it certain properties, be it strength, corrosion resistance, impact strength, cutting edge resistance, and so on.

Elmax steel is characterized by the following composition:

• 1.7% carbon, which allows the steel to be classified as high-carbon and gives it increased hardness and strength.
• 18% chromium, which gives exceptional resistance to corrosion and increases the strength of the steel, as well as toughness and elasticity.
• 3% vanadium, which improves the structure of steel, making it denser and giving it hardness and strength.
• 1% molybdenum, which slightly increases corrosion resistance, as well as strength characteristics, including elasticity.
• 0.3% manganese, which also has a positive effect on the strength of steel, its wear resistance and hardness, without reducing ductility.

Operating Parameters

For those who want to personally make a knife from Elmax steel with their own hands, it is important to know how to do it correctly. Therefore, we consider it our duty to help you with this.

The steel must first be annealed. This is done at a temperature of 960 °C for two hours, after which, lowering the temperature by 20 °C per hour, bring it to 850 °C and, after holding it at this temperature for 10 hours, slowly cool it down with the oven by another hundred degrees. And all this with protection against oxidation.

The forging corridor, alas, is not known, but steel in general does not need to be forged, because it is sold in strips. Quenching is carried out at a temperature of 1080 °C followed by cooling in oil until it stops. Steel is tempered at 180 °C for 90 minutes. The working hardness of the knife is approximately 61 Rockwell units.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's start with the good stuff:

• Knives made from Elmax are not prone to corrosion, almost completely.
• A blade made from this steel is very resistant to lateral loads and bending.
• Powder steel has an almost ideal internal structure.
• Absolute purification from harmful impurities.
• Amazing edge retention and relative ease of sharpening when using good sharpening stones.
• The steel can be ground well and even polished without revealing the pattern. It is possible to achieve a completely mirror surface.

Of the minuses:

• Unavailability of steel. Powder steels are rarely used for the manufacture of various parts and tools, and such as Elmax, are almost entirely used only for the manufacture of knives.
• Price. Steel is quite high, so buying it even in small quantities will cost you a considerable amount of money. We can only hope for numerous online stores where it is possible to purchase a steel strip at a price of 3-4 thousand, taking into account taxes, delivery, etc. But you should be wary of banal fakes.
• Difficulties. Annealing technology involves protection against oxidation, which is difficult to achieve without professional equipment, which not everyone can afford.

To summarize, we can conclude that Elmax steel is rightfully recognized as one of the best knife steels today. If you have been thinking about buying a knife from this material for a long time, now is the time to make your decision. It will serve you long and faithfully.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/396605/noji-iz-poroshkovoy-stali-elmax

The advantages of powder steels include:

1. Flexibility. Indeed, due to its small size and distribution of carbides as close to ideal as possible, in this type of steel it is possible to significantly increase the degree of alloying, which will lead to an increase in its resistance properties.
2. Mechanics.

   For the same reasons, with a reasonable approach to limiting the amount of carbide phase, a noticeable improvement in mechanical properties can be achieved.

3. Grinding. Due to the fact that powder steel contains small, evenly distributed carbides, they are much more amenable to grinding and forging.
4. Hardening.

   During the hardening process, powder steel receives a more saturated solid solution, finer and more uniform grain. As a result, there is an increase in its hardness, heat resistance, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

5. Manufacturing.

   Powder technology makes it quite easy to produce high-nitrogen steels using solid-phase nitriding methods.

6. Application. Powder steels can easily be used to create materials using mechanical alloying methods (carbide steels, cermets, DUO steels).

With a rather impressive list of advantages, like everything in this world, powder steel also has some disadvantages:

1. Powder processing expands, but does not eliminate alloying limits. For example, if such steel does not have eutectic carbides in its structure, then its powder processing does not make sense and most often leads to some deterioration in properties.

2. Powder processing steels contain a larger amount of non-metallic inclusions, however, recently, thanks to the efforts of scientists, this factor has already been successfully combated.
3. Powder grade steel is noticeably more expensive.

   In addition, their successful production requires expensive special equipment, and there are also restrictions on the maximum size of workpieces.

It is necessary to understand that powder processing is not a magic wand. It solves one problem - combating carbide heterogeneity.

It is most appropriate to produce high-alloy steels (for example, high-speed or corrosion-resistant) by this method, where the improvement in durability, mechanical and technological properties compensates for the increase in cost. This is also taken into account when making Kershaw folding knives.

Today, the blades of almost 90% of knife products of various brands are made of powder steel.

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Read also:

1Features of knives

1History of the knife and its design

1Author's knives

1Philosophy of knife production

1Patterned steel damask and damascus

Source: https://ostrie-torg.ru/poroshkovye-stali-dlja-klinkov

Powder steels. Yesterday Today Tomorrow

For several years now, observing discussions held among knifemakers about the choice of steel for a knife, I notice that more than half of the topics are devoted to the discussion of powder steels. Actually, the interest in this group of materials is understandable, since it is “powders” that have now firmly occupied the “knife Olympus”.

They hold the majority of “records” both in terms of the ability to hold a cutting edge (CR) and in resistance to various loads. And it is from powder steels that a significant number of middle and high class knives are produced.

At the same time, there are many legends around “powders”, there is a lot of exaggeration of the advantages and misunderstanding of the disadvantages.

Therefore, it is long overdue to talk about the “powder processing” technology itself, the structure and properties of powder steels, and the prospects for the development of this class of materials. That's what I'll try to do now.

Let's look at the technology itself, but first let's start from afar

Most steels used for the production of blades, after heat treatment (HT), have the structure: martensite + carbides (+ retained austenite + non-metallic inclusions, etc.).

Carbides, which are harder and more brittle than the martensitic matrix, increase the wear resistance of the steel and degrade (beyond a certain limit) the mechanical properties, especially strength and toughness.

The degree of reduction in strength properties depends on the amount of the carbide phase, its type, the size of the carbides and their clusters, and the uniformity of the distribution of carbides in the structure. For example, for P18 steel, when moving from a score of 12 to a score of 78 in terms of heterogeneity, the strength drops approximately by half and the toughness by three times.

Large, unevenly distributed carbides not only reduce the mechanical characteristics of steel, but also a noticeable anisotropy of these characteristics appears, i.e. uneven properties depending on direction. For blades, the situation is even more aggravated; the most unfavorable direction (transversal, i.e. perpendicular to the blade strip) also coincides with the direction of the least structural strength.

In addition, pronounced carbide heterogeneity (this is the term that characterizes the “quality” of the carbide phase and its distribution, measured in kn points) creates problems during grinding and increases the tendency for leads and cracks.

Steels with a large number of large and unevenly distributed carbides are less susceptible to hot deformation, and, starting from a certain degree of cold, the material stops deforming under normal conditions.

During heat treatment, such steel acquires a non-uniform structure, and the heat treatment results themselves become less predictable.

The result is a vicious circle: to increase durability, it is necessary to increase the amount of the carbide phase, and to maintain acceptable mechanical characteristics, reduce and improve the distribution.

Since the amount and type of carbide phase depend on the composition of the steel (mainly on the carbon content and the amount and type of alloying elements), in classical steels there is a certain limit on alloying (and, accordingly, the content of the carbide phase), at which the steel still has the minimum permissible mechanical and technological properties. And accordingly, there is a limit to the durability characteristics.

Now, I think it’s worth listing the types of carbides (by origin and composition) and noting the degree of their negative impact on the properties of steel.

Let's consider the process of crystallization of an ingot (highly simplified)

So, if we go from top to bottom along the temperature scale, then when the melt is cooled, the following are sequentially distinguished:

• Primary carbides are separated directly from the melt. As a rule, these are carbides and carbonitrides of elements of the 4th and 5th groups, the most common are vanadium carbides when the latter content in steel is above 67%;
• Eutectic carbides are part of the eutectic and are released when the last portions of the liquid solidify. Due to their large size (up to 50 microns) and morphology (the eutectic “envelops” dendrites and primary grains, forming a network), it is eutectic carbides that most strongly influence the strength and technological properties of steel. Eutectic carbides are mainly represented by carbides based on chromium and tungsten (molybdenum). High-vanadium steels may contain eutectic based on vanadium carbide (of a “fine” structure);
• Secondary carbides precipitate from austenite upon cooling. They are small in size and have a very uniform distribution. Under certain conditions, they can form coarse aggregates, worsening carbide heterogeneity;
• Tertiary carbides precipitate from martensite. They have submicron dimensions.

As a rule, with an increase in the amount of carbide phase, the size of the carbides increases and their distribution worsens.

Thus, we see that in order to maintain acceptable strength and technological properties with a large amount of carbide phase, it is necessary to reduce the size of the carbides and make their distribution more uniform.

And mainly we should “fight” eutectic carbides as the most “harmful”. And this is not easy. Almost all high-speed and the vast majority of corrosion-resistant and die steels belong to the ledeburite class, i.e. have eutectic carbides in their structure.

The most common brands include P18, P6M5, X12MF, 95X18, etc.

How to be? There are several ways to solve the problem

1. Optimization of steel composition. At the same time, the amount of eutectic carbides is reduced, and the required wear resistance is achieved by using other types of carbides. A typical example of such a solution is many high-vanadium steels.
2. Microalloying. Many elements make the eutectic network “thinner”, improve the distribution of eutectic carbides and somewhat reduce their size.

   As a rule, these are strong carbide formers, elements of group 2 and rare earth metals.

3. High-intensity plastic deformation. As the degree of deformation increases, the carbides are partially crushed, and their distribution improves (especially when using special deformation techniques).
4. Increasing the rate of crystallization.

It is this last principle, taken almost to the absolute, that underlies the technology of powder metallurgy. How can you increase the cooling rate? It’s easy to reduce the size of the ingot. With an ingot size of the order of 150 microns (a typical “powder grain”), the cooling rate reaches 104105 K/s; at such speeds and sizes, the eutectic turns out to be very “thin”, and the size of the carbides does not exceed 23 microns.

How is this implemented in practice? In several stages, the sequential implementation of which is called powder processing.

1. A melt with a composition corresponding to the composition of steel is sprayed in various ways (air, nitrogen, inert gases, water, hydrocarbons, etc. can be used). Particles of sprayed metal crystallize. Moreover, each “powder” is a micro-ingot. The output is metal powder.
2. If necessary, the powder is subjected to additional processing (removal of non-metallic inclusions, solid-phase nitriding, etc.).
3. Next, the powder is poured into a container made of plastic material, vacuumed and brewed.
4. The container is pressed at high pressures (several hundred/thousand atmospheres at normal temperature). (Optional.)
5. Solid-phase or two-phase (in the presence of a certain amount of liquid phase) sintering is carried out at high temperatures (1150-1300 °C) and pressures (tens/hundreds of atmospheres).

Actually, this is where the differences between powder and standard methods for producing steel end. Powder steel blanks are subjected to hot deformation, etc. (Fig. 1).

The technology was developed in the mid-1960s in Sweden (in the USSR, powder technology was called the “Swedish process” for some time). Powder steels have been widely used since the early 1970s. Currently, a significant number of steel grades, mainly high-alloy steels, are produced abroad by powder processing. In the USSR, the center of powder metallurgy was the Ukrainian SSR, and after the collapse of the Union, almost all enterprises ended up in Ukraine.

Advantages of powder technology

1. Due to the small sizes and close to ideal distribution of carbides in powder steels:
   • You can significantly increase the degree of alloying (accordingly, “push” more carbide phase into the steel) and thereby increase the resistance properties of the steel (Fig. 2);
   • By reasonably limiting the amount of carbide phase, better mechanical properties are achieved;
   • Powder steels are much better at grinding (sometimes by an order of magnitude) and forging;
   • When steel is hardened, a more saturated solid solution, finer and more uniform grain is obtained, which contributes to a slight increase in hardness, heat resistance, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
2. Powder technology makes it quite easy to produce high-nitrogen steels using solid-phase nitriding methods (for example, Vancron 40/50 and Vanax 35/75 steels).
3. Powders can be used to create materials using mechanical alloying methods (carbide steels, cermets, DUO steels).

Disadvantages of powder technology

Source: https://www.knife.ru/reviews/spravka/poroshkovye-stali-vchera-segodnya-zavtra/

Powder steel knives

Modern technologies make it possible to create unique knife blades that have high-quality properties and can be used in various conditions. For example, today powder steel has become very popular as an excellent material for making knives. Experts say that today powder steels have the best quality among other materials. The market presents knives made of this material of exceptionally high and medium quality.

Process of making a powder steel knife

Modern powder alloys for the manufacture of blades contain a sufficient degree of carbides and non-metallic inclusions , and the grain structure according to the phase transition is as follows: martensite, austenite .

Carbides of various types are hard and at the same time brittle materials that increase the wear resistance of the alloy, but at the same time worsen its mechanical characteristics , for example, the overall strength and toughness of the steel. If this element is distributed unevenly, then anisotropy of various characteristics of the blade may occur, the overall appearance of the knife becomes heterogeneous and its structure becomes unpredictable.

To prevent this from happening, the following technologies are used in powder metallurgy:

1. Alloy optimization – industrial reduction of the amount of eutectic types of carbides;
2. Microalloying is the addition of strong carbide formers or rare earth elements and the second group to the alloy during steel production;
3. Plastic deformation - by crushing carbides, their distribution in composition is improved;
4. Increasing the quality and rate of crystallization of powder steel.

Once the powder alloy composition is ready for the production of a blade blank, the production of the knife itself begins. This process occurs in several stages:

1. The alloy is atomized , resulting in a metal powder, each particle of which is a microscopic ingot;
2. Powdered metal is processed if necessary;
3. After this, the metal powder is poured into a vacuum mold made of plastic materials;
4. is pressed under high pressure;
5. Next, solid-phase and two-phase sintering under high temperature and pressure of several hundred atmospheres.

Thus, the production of the knife is completed. Next, the manufacturing company creates the handle and decorates the blade in accordance with the requested requirements.

Features of sharpening powder steel knives

The main difficulty after purchasing a powder alloy knife is sharpening it. Of course, this can be done, but often only in specialized workshops, because the blade of such a knife is quite hard and is sintered from separate structures, so improper distribution of forces on the knife blade during sharpening causes chipping of the knife blade on a larger scale than with similar steel knives, produced by stamping or forging.

In this regard, when sharpening a knife from powders at home, there is a danger of unevenness on its blade and microscopic chips as a result of choosing the wrong technology and sharpening devices.

Advantages over other materials

Manufacturing technologies make it possible to create unique blades from powders that have various advantages over conventional knives. Here is a list of the main advantages of this unique material:

1. It is possible to increase the quality distribution of carbides , which increases wear resistance, anti-corrosion and general mechanical characteristics of the material;
2. Grinding is much easier than the same processing of ordinary steel;
3. Powder steel production produces a high-tech nitrogen alloy that is harder than most analogues;
4. The blades are much sharper than prototype knives made from other metals;

Disadvantages of the alloy

Of course, the main disadvantage of this type of alloy is the huge price of products made from powder . This is due to high-tech production and the complexity of sharpening the blade.

But there are other disadvantages of this alloy, for example, the high content of foreign particles and non-metallic inclusions in steel of this type, which can get in during the forming phase of the product.

Another disadvantage is the great difficulty and accuracy when sharpening at home, which leads to the fact that knives of this type must be used carefully. But these disadvantages are offset by the advantages of powder steel knives, especially their extraordinary sharpness and high wear resistance, and most importantly, anti-corrosion properties.

Source: http://www.m-deer.ru/instrumenty/ruch-instr/nozhi-iz-poroshkovoj-stali.html