Abrasive resistance of Stainless Vs Carbon steel?

[rhinoknives]

I have a question here about knife steels and we can use CPM-154 and 1095 as our examples.

Also It not my intent to start a debate over stainless vs carbon steel

I use mostly all stainless and notice how much harder it can be to grind on my 2 x 72" belt machine both HTed and not HTed that a carbon steel. Also stainless is harder to sharpen but it stays sharp longer has been my experience.

So the question is does the Chromium and other alloys added to make a steel "Stainless" Also give an abrasive resistance that also adds a toughness or perhaps shear resistance is the term for what I am noticing?

What would be the correct terminology for this effect and can anyone explain and show some data on this?

Thanks.

 

[me2]

For your examples of 154CM and 1095, what you are seeing is the difference in carbide volume between the 2 steels in both the annealed and hardened condition. 1095 has about 15% carbide in the annealed state, while 154CM has considerably more, though I don't know how much. In the hardened condition, 1095 will have between 2% and 4%, though the higher range is difficult to get, if possible at all (estimates and all that). 154CM will have between 10% and 14% carbide in the hardened condition. Again, this is an estimate, based off published S30V values of 14.5% carbide by volume after heat treating. Also involved is the Cr carbides in 154CM are harder/more wear resistant all by themselves than the cementite (Fe3C) in 1095. The carbides in 1095 are individually smaller, making a very sharp edge easier to reach. The elements added will have a direct effect, though it's not just the elements added to make steel "stainless". Adding tungsten, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, niobium, and a few other elements greatly increases the volume % carbide in a steel. What you are experiencing is a higher degree of abrasive wear in the 154CM.

 

[rhinoknives]

Mike,
Welcome to KDs and thanks for shining some light on this question for me. In the last sentence don't you mean the term is an increased amount of abrasive resistance?

Would you know of a link or book I could read about this topic? And thanks again!

 

[me2]

Yes, quite right. Abrasive resistance. There are several books around. It depends on how deep you want to get into it. Is there someone named Mike that I've accidentally blocked? I don't see replies but mine above. Basically, almost all the alloy carbides increase wear resistance and increase the tendency to form carbides. Cr, W, Mo, V, Nb, and others add wear resistance through increased carbide hardness and increased volume of carbides, when added in the proper amounts.