Aisi 52100 steel is a kind of steel with high carbon and chromium content, with good performance and wide application. After hardening, it reaches high hardness, high thread strength, good dimensional stability and corrosion resistance.
Great for kitchen and field knives.
Fine grain structure
Recommended operating sequence:
Forging: heat to a maximum of 2100°F (1150°C) and do not forge after the temperature of forging material has dropped below approximately 1700°F (925°C)
Normalization: Heat to 885°C (1625°F) and cool in still air.
Annealing: For a predominantly spheroidal structure generally desired for machining, heat to 795°C (1460°F) and cool rapidly to 750°C (1380°F), then continue to cool to 675°C (1250°F) at a rate not exceeding 10°F (6°C) per hour; or as an alternative technique, heat to 795 °C (1460 °F), cool rapidly to 690 °C (1275 °F) for 40 minutes and leave in the oven off.
Rectification or Machining
Hardening: Austenitize from 1475°F to 1550°F (845°C) and quench in Durixol V35 oil. Lower austenitizing temperatures may be used depending on previous heat treatments and the resulting condition of the carbide. Higher temperatures cause excess carbon in solution and retained austenite can become problematic.
Tempering: Hardness in quenched state up to 66 HRC. After quenching, the parts should be tempered as soon as they have uniformly reached room temperature.