Scientific Terms Behind Hand Knives

Below are several scientific terms related to hand knives.

Why science?

Well, hand knives don’t grow on trees.

They are forged in state-of-the-art workshops like the ones used by Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions.

While there’s an art to making long-lasting, high-quality hand knives, there’s also a lot of science involved in the process too.

Don’t worry, there won’t be a test afterwards.

Below, we look at 15 terms related to the science (mainly chemistry) of hand knives. These terms are less about what a hand knife does and more about what’s in them.

Alloy Steel – Alloy Steel is a combination of metal with at least one element that offers increase hardness and/or stain resistance.

Carbide – Carbide is a hard metal compound that holds a sharp edge for a long time.

Carbon – Carbon is an element that helps turn iron into steel. Carbon makes a blade hard and gives it the ability to keep a sharp edge. On the other hand, carbon makes steel blades susceptible to corrosion and staining.

Chromium – Chromium is an element that adds hardenability, endurance, and corrosion resistance to a steel blade.

Coatings – Coatings are compounds applied to the outside of blades to aid them in their primary function and increases certain key characteristics.

Corrosion Resistance – Corrosion resistance is all about the blade’s penchant to avoid rust. The higher a hand knife’s corrosion resistance is, the more it can endure being used outside.

High-Carbon – Steel is said to be “high-carbon” if it contains .5% carbon or more.

Molybdenum – Molybdenum is an element that when added to steel does several things including increasing its corrosion resistance, hardenability and tensile strength.

Nickel – Nickel is an alloy that when added to steel increases its corrosion resistance, hardenability, and toughness.

Physical Properties – When we talk about the physical properties of a blade we mean characteristics such as ductility, hardenability, and toughness. These characteristics are a result of the steel’s chemistry and whether or not it was properly heat treated.

Rockwell Hardness Scale – Rockwell Hardness Scale is a test used to determining a steel’s indentation hardness. It is performed by depressing a diamond crystal into a piece of steel. The test does not destroy the steel.

Stainless Steel – Stainless steel is a steel alloy with a lot of chromium, twelve percent or more. Chromium helps prevent rust and stains.

Teflon – When Teflon is applied to the outside of a blade, the blade increases its lubricity.

Tin – When Tin is applied to the outside of a blade, the blade increases it wear resistance.

Vanadium – Vanadium is added to steel for improved hardenability and to create a fine grain. This fine grain helps in making the steel wear resistance.