Heat Treatment Specifications
Austenitizing
Temperature1220°C(2228°F)
Soak Time15 minutes
Tempering
Temperature550°C(1022°F)
Time120 minutes
Cycles3x
Quench Medium
air
Target Hardness
68 - 70 HRC
Performance Characteristics
Toughness5.5/10
Edge Retention9.5/10
Corrosion Resistance2/10
Ease of Sharpening2.5/10
Overall Score19.5/40
Interesting Facts
- 1Zapp PM steel developed to replace carbide tooling
- 2At RC 68-69, wear resistance close to Maxamet and Rex 121
- 3Similar to Maxamet but with 5% Mo and less W/Co
- 4Poor toughness - susceptible to microchipping on hard surfaces
- 5Best suited for slicing applications
Famous Uses
Specialty slicing knives
Ultra-wear applications
Best For
Maximum wear resistance
High-performance cutting
Specialized tools
Similar Steels
Not Recommended For
- Budget
- Beginners
- Wide availability
Expert Tips
- 168-70 HRC hardness
- 2Very high carbide volume
- 3Coarse edge 15° minimum
- 4Difficult to machine/sharpen