13C26 Sandvik

13C26 is a stainless steel, commonly used for razor blades. It has a fine grain structure, making it a reliable steel for various blades. Similar to AEB-L, it is a popular material for high-quality stainless steel blades. It is easy to polish and sharpen, possessing superior qualities compared to 12C27.

Hardening
Hardening temperature 1060°C, holding time 1.5 minutes per mm of thickness, cooling between aluminum plates with forced air
Tempering
2 times for 40 minutes

Fragility occurs with tempering above 450°C (840°F).

Sandvik Hardening Recommendations:

• Too high hardening temperature results in a coarse structure, high austenite content (30%), and few carbides. Consequence: low hardness and poor wear resistance.
• Too slow cooling after austenitization produces carbide precipitations at grain edges. Consequence: brittleness and reduced corrosion resistance.
• Optimized hardening conditions yield optimal austenite content (15%), evenly distributed carbides. Consequence: optimal combination of hardness, wear resistance, ductility, and corrosion resistance.

How Hardening Parameters Affect Product Properties

• Too high hardening temperature results in low hardness and poor wear resistance due to excessive retained austenite.
• Low hardening temperature results in low hardness and reduced corrosion resistance.
• Too long holding time at optimal hardening temperature increases retained austenite quantity and decreases hardness.
• Too short holding time at optimal hardening temperature has the same effect as low austenitization temperature.
• Maximum hardness is achieved with residual austenite content of approximately 15%.
• Deep freezing, i.e., cooling below room temperature, increases hardness by about 1–2 HRC.
• Maximum hardness is achieved with deep freezing by increasing the hardening temperature.
• High cooling rate after hardening is necessary to avoid brittleness and reduced corrosion resistance. 600°C (1112°F) should be reached within 1–2 minutes and room temperature within 30 minutes.
• Rehardening is generally not recommended as it does not confer optimal properties to the product.

Physical Properties:

The physical properties of steel are related to various factors, including alloy elements, heat treatment, and production processes, but the following data can generally be used for approximate calculations.