Which Steel Has the Best Edge Retention?

[Larrin]

A major knife company with a CATRA tester sent me a giant database of their testing results. I used that database to figure out the relative effects of different variables on edge retention in knives. Enjoy. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2018/11/19/ ... retention/

[Deadboxhero]

This article is revolutionary, we now have a formula to predict Catra values. Keep in mind that wear resistance is only a component of overall edge holding, the higher the value (TCC) means more slicing edge endurance not longer sharpenes per say. Very cool.
Seriously, you guys need to read this one.


Here is the formula at the top and the carbides that form for a given steel. You just plug the information in the formula with a calculator. So Awesome!!!


For example Vanax Superclean forms 13% Vanadium Nitrides from it's composition after Heat treatment.

This means at 60hrc and a 30° inclusive angle, we get 528 total cards cut

Compared to Elmax at 543 Total Cards Cut at 60 HRC and also 30° inclusive but with 16% of the softer CrVC and only 2% Vanadium Rich, super hard MC type carbides.

Vanax Superclean -157+15.8(60)-17.8(30)+20.9(13)=528.7

Have fun guys, post up some steels.

[TomAiello]

Can someone do a calculation for Maxamet in the Native and Maxamet at factory angles?

[Larrin]

Can someone do a calculation for Maxamet in the Native and Maxamet at factory angles?

I'm not aware of any published carbide numbers for Maxamet.

[Deadboxhero]

Unfortunately we are limited to the Carbide values on the chart that Larrin has been gathering for years from various articles and spec sheets.

He uses special software to predict the carbides that form from the chemistry.

For example, Elmax is 1.70 Carbon 18% Chromium and 3% Vanadium
But we don't get 3% Vanadium carbide, that just the Vanadium alloy in the steel
We get 2% Vanadium carbide.

And 16% Chromium Carbide enhanced with Vanadium which is softer then the Vanadium carbide but harder then the pure Chromium Carbide.

So we'll have to wait to see if Larrin can come up with the carbide values for Maxamet or if carpenter can provide them.

Very exciting.

Can someone do a calculation for Maxamet in the Native and Maxamet at factory angles?

[Naperville]

Shocked at where N690 placed. My gut does not believe it. The rest of the values look reasonable.

[Larrin]

Shocked at where N690 placed. My gut does not believe it. The rest of the values look reasonable.

The steels are not ranked. What do you mean?

[Stuart Ackerman]

Shocked at where N690 placed. My gut does not believe it. The rest of the values look reasonable.

The steels are not ranked. What do you mean?

A glance at the graph makes it look like VG10 is stone cold last... :rolleyes:
Which it is not... :)

[Deadboxhero]

Plug in the formula boys

N690

-157+15.8(60rc)-17.8(30°)+11.2(16%CrC)= 443 total cards cut.

440C
-157+15.8(60rc)-17.8(30°)+11.2(12%CrC)=391.4 total

[Deadboxhero]

BEHOLD!

Crush the data, see the results driven before you, hear the laminations of your expectations :D

[Larrin]

BEHOLD!

Crush the data, see the results driven before you, hear the laminations of your expectations :D

I believe you mean lamentations. Unless this is a reference to laminated steel in some way. :)

[Deadboxhero]

BEHOLD!

Crush the data, see the results driven before you, hear the laminations of your expectations :D

I believe you mean lamentations. Unless this is a reference to laminated steel in some way. :)

Haha yes, dang auto correct :D

[Doeswhateveraspidercan]

BEHOLD!

Crush the data, see the results driven before you, hear the laminations of your expectations :D

Ah but do you understand the riddle of Steel?

[Deadboxhero]

Crom (Larrin) has told us :D

BEHOLD!

Crush the data, see the results driven before you, hear the laminations of your expectations :D

Ah but do you understand the riddle of Steel?

[Doeswhateveraspidercan]

Lol Perfect!

[The Mastiff]

I kind of like laminations better. :)

Joe

[Deadboxhero]

:D :D :D both work

I kind of like laminations better. :)

Joe

[Naperville]

Shocked at where N690 placed. My gut does not believe it. The rest of the values look reasonable.

The steels are not ranked. What do you mean?

OOPS!

[SF Native]

Excellent work larrin. Wish we had more carbide volumes available for some of the steels in production.

[Larrin]

Excellent work larrin. Wish we had more carbide volumes available for some of the steels in production.

I agree! I'm reasonably confident this article has a larger collection of reported values than has ever been available before. Without some microscopy we probably aren't going to get many more.