Martensitic Stainless Steel Alloy Having Optimized Hardness and Corrosion Resistance

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This invention describes a new martensitic stainless steel alloy and its manufacturing process, resulting in steel with both high hardness and improved corrosion resistance. The key innovation lies in the optimized chemical composition—using a combination of carbon, chromium, nitrogen, and optionally molybdenum—in such a way that the precipitation of chromium carbides (which reduce corrosion resistance) is significantly inhibited, even under industrial heat treatment conditions. This allows for easier and more reliable production of high-performance stainless steel parts.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Manufacture of knives, blades, and cutlery
• Industrial machine knives and cutting tools
• Razor blades and shaving implements
• Chirurgical instruments and surgical tools
• Medical operation equipment and surgical cutlery
• Food processing tools and machines
• Aerospace components requiring both hardness and corrosion resistance
• Precision components exposed to harsh environments

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Achieves both high hardness (>650 HV10) and improved corrosion resistance compared to commercially available alloys.
• Reduces tendency for harmful chromium carbide precipitation during standard industrial heat treatment, removing the need for very rapid cooling (quenching) and allowing more forgiving process windows.
• Enables cost-effective and reliable industrial-scale manufacturing due to less stringent processing requirements.
• Substitution of carbon with nitrogen allows maintaining necessary mechanical properties while greatly enhancing corrosion resistance and reducing formation of undesirable secondary phases.
• Optional addition of molybdenum further increases corrosion resistance and reduces sensitization tendency.
• Results in a more uniform, homogenous structure with fewer defects, improving product reliability and lifespan.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a martensitic non-rusting steel alloy having optimized hardness and corrosion resistance and having a composition of > 0 to 11.5 to 0.05 to 0.1 to 0.05 wt.%. The martensitic non-rusting steel alloy has, in particular, significant inhibition of chromium carbide precipitation (sensitization) during the quenching in the thermal treatment.