Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
User avatar
Larrin
Member
Posts: 864
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 9:27 am
Contact:

Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#1

Post by Larrin »

I generated a simple method for predicting the corrosion resistance of knife steel, and then ranked them all. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/01/14/ ... esistance/
http://www.KnifeSteelNerds.com - Steel Metallurgy topics related to knives
steeljustice
Member
Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 4:45 pm

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#2

Post by steeljustice »

LC200N would be a great choice.
Sjucaveman
Member
Posts: 1158
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:00 pm
Location: Central Mn

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#3

Post by Sjucaveman »

Awesome, thanks for your hard work.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Adam
User avatar
Larrin
Member
Posts: 864
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 9:27 am
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#4

Post by Larrin »

LC200N is the same as Cronidur 30
http://www.KnifeSteelNerds.com - Steel Metallurgy topics related to knives
Doeswhateveraspidercan
Member
Posts: 2618
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:31 pm

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#5

Post by Doeswhateveraspidercan »

Based on the ones I own and use allot from greatest to least corrosion in this order based upon real use and observation.

H1 / LC200N Cant get either to rust although I think something rusted on top of my H1 as there are rust marks in the same area on both side of the blade in the same area like it was left trapped inside something will have to flitz it tonight and see.

S110V

S90V

CTS-204P / M390

M390

S35VN

Elmax

VG-10

S30V
Tdog
Member
Posts: 1853
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:04 pm
Location: The woods of Florida

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#6

Post by Tdog »

Another great article. I long ago opted out from carrying ZDP-189 around saltwater. While classified as stainless, I found it rusts and pits much quicker than most other "stainless" steels. Your explanation helps to better understand why. Though the list confirms many of my experiences, I'll definitely keep this for future reference. While other factors affect steel and knife choice, this is an excellent guide to stainless qualities. Thanks for your time, effort, and expense in helping us to better understand steel qualities.
Doeswhateveraspidercan
Member
Posts: 2618
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:31 pm

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#7

Post by Doeswhateveraspidercan »

Apologies did not realize you took the time to make such a nice article. Interesting to see where things landed.
User avatar
ferider
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:41 pm
Location: California
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#8

Post by ferider »

Thanks for the great article, Larrin.

I have a question: how do your PREN approximations ....

- Acetic acid = Cr + 0.45(Mo + 0.5W)
- Aqua-Regia = Cr + 0.79(Mo + 0.5W)
- Pitting potential = Cr + 2.6(Mo+0.5W)

... work for steels with very high Tungsten content ? For example, CPM Rex 45 with 6.25% W, or Maxamet with 13% ? We haven't seen a lot of corrosion on knives in those two steels in practice (yet), and I was wondering if Tungsten was to take credit for this.

Thanks,

Roland.
The Meat man
Member
Posts: 5856
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:01 pm
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#9

Post by The Meat man »

Thanks Larrin, great article!
- Connor

"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
steeljustice
Member
Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 4:45 pm

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#10

Post by steeljustice »

LC200N C 0.38 Cr 15.08 Mo .95 N .50 Mn 1.00

Cronidur30 C 0.25 to 0.35 Mn 1.00 Si 1.00 Cr 14.0 to 16.0 Mo 0.85 to 01.10 Ni .50 N 0.30 to 0.50
User avatar
Bloke
Member
Posts: 5424
Joined: Fri May 13, 2016 12:43 am
Location: Sydney, Australia.

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#11

Post by Bloke »

As always, many thanks Larrin. :)
A day without laughter is a day wasted. ~ Charlie Chaplin
User avatar
Larrin
Member
Posts: 864
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 9:27 am
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#12

Post by Larrin »

ferider wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:02 pm
Thanks for the great article, Larrin.

I have a question: how do your PREN approximations ....

- Acetic acid = Cr + 0.45(Mo + 0.5W)
- Aqua-Regia = Cr + 0.79(Mo + 0.5W)
- Pitting potential = Cr + 2.6(Mo+0.5W)

... work for steels with very high Tungsten content ? For example, CPM Rex 45 with 6.25% W, or Maxamet with 13% ? We haven't seen a lot of corrosion on knives in those two steels in practice (yet), and I was wondering if Tungsten was to take credit for this.

Thanks,

Roland.
Maxamet is in the table. Rex45 is not but it is a Mo-W steel just like M2 and M4 (plus cobalt) so calculations would probably be similar to those two.
http://www.KnifeSteelNerds.com - Steel Metallurgy topics related to knives
User avatar
Larrin
Member
Posts: 864
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 9:27 am
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#13

Post by Larrin »

steeljustice wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:26 pm
LC200N C 0.38 Cr 15.08 Mo .95 N .50 Mn 1.00

Cronidur30 C 0.25 to 0.35 Mn 1.00 Si 1.00 Cr 14.0 to 16.0 Mo 0.85 to 01.10 Ni .50 N 0.30 to 0.50
I believe you meant to put 0.30C and 15.0Cr unless you have a different composition than the datasheet that you are referencing.
http://www.KnifeSteelNerds.com - Steel Metallurgy topics related to knives
User avatar
ferider
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:41 pm
Location: California
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#14

Post by ferider »

Larrin wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:33 pm
ferider wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:02 pm
Thanks for the great article, Larrin.

I have a question: how do your PREN approximations ....

- Acetic acid = Cr + 0.45(Mo + 0.5W)
- Aqua-Regia = Cr + 0.79(Mo + 0.5W)
- Pitting potential = Cr + 2.6(Mo+0.5W)

... work for steels with very high Tungsten content ? For example, CPM Rex 45 with 6.25% W, or Maxamet with 13% ? We haven't seen a lot of corrosion on knives in those two steels in practice (yet), and I was wondering if Tungsten was to take credit for this.

Thanks,

Roland.
Maxamet is in the table. Rex45 is not but it is a Mo-W steel just like M2 and M4 (plus cobalt) so calculations would probably be similar to those two.
Don't mean to argue, Larrin, have wondered about these PREN indicators before ..... The Maxamet W contents in the table is not what I see on Carpenter's website (https://www.cartech.com/en/product-solu ... amet-alloy). Per Carpenter, it has 13% W, and - for example - the Pitting potential PREN should be 21.3, higher than any other entry in the table. What am I missing ? Thanks.
User avatar
Larrin
Member
Posts: 864
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 9:27 am
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#15

Post by Larrin »

ferider wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:53 pm
Don't mean to argue, Larrin, have wondered about these PREN indicators before ..... The Maxamet W contents in the table is not what I see on Carpenter's website (https://www.cartech.com/en/product-solu ... amet-alloy). Per Carpenter, it has 13% W, and - for example - the Pitting potential PREN should be 21.3, higher than any other entry in the table. What am I missing ? Thanks.
Most of the values in the table do not match the bulk composition, as it is a calculation of alloy in solution after heat treatment.
http://www.KnifeSteelNerds.com - Steel Metallurgy topics related to knives
User avatar
ferider
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:41 pm
Location: California
Contact:

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#16

Post by ferider »

I see. Thanks !
Demon85z
Member
Posts: 214
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:28 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#18

Post by Demon85z »

This is awesome! Very nice work! Thank you.
:bug-red-white I collect them all, and use them all! I use the excuse, "I'm trying to find the perfect one", but in reality, they are all perfect in their own way!
User avatar
SpyderEdgeForever
Member
Posts: 6325
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:53 pm
Location: USA

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#19

Post by SpyderEdgeForever »

Thank you Larrin. Edge-holding is important to me but my two main big properties I like in a knife steel are corrosion-resistance and toughness.
User avatar
SpyderEdgeForever
Member
Posts: 6325
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:53 pm
Location: USA

Re: Which Knife Steels Have the Best Corrosion Resistance

#20

Post by SpyderEdgeForever »

By the way everyone, look which steel is nearly at the top of the chart: SANDVIK 14C28N! Just as I thought! :) :) :)
Post Reply