Razor blade steel having high corrosion resistance and differential residual austenite content

摘要

Steel which is particularly useful for making a razor blade of high corrosion resistance contains more than 0.45%, but less than 0.55%, of carbon, 0.4 to 1.0% of silicon, 0.5 to 1.0% of manganese, 12 to 14% of chromium and 1.0 to 1.6% of molybdenum all by weight, in addition to iron and inevitable impurities, and has a carbide density of 100 to 150 particles per 100 square microns as annealed. The razor blade has a Vickers hardness of at least 620 and a carbide density of 10 to 45 particles per 100 square microns, and preferably has a specific distribution of residual austenite content. The improved properties of the razor blade are achieved by an improved process of heat treatment which includes austenitizing the steel at a temperature of 1075° C. to 1120° C., cooling it to a temperature between -60° C. and - 80° C. for hardening it, and tempering it at a temperature of 250° C. to 400° C.