02-11-2018, 09:34 PM
Inexpensive stainless steels often have inexpensive heat treatments. This leaves a high percentage of retained austenite, which is soft and gummy. However, it was also easy to get stainless steels not suitable for cutting tools. This combination gave stainless a less than stellar reputation.
Good stainless has been available for a while, 90 years or so. It has higher wear resistance than the low alloy and plain carbon steels like 1095, 52100, O1, and similar steels, though the difference is not large. Several alloys were developed for cutting applications. They behave very similarly to carbon steels. They have carbide sizes similar to low alloy and plain carbon steels, but I have been unable to find grain size data from a reliable source.
The extra chromium in stainless makes stainless corrosion resistant. The minimum necessary is between 10 and 12 percent, depending on the source of information. When a stainless has enough carbon, it combines with the extra chromium to make chromium carbides, which are harder and more wear resistant than iron carbide.
Good stainless has been available for a while, 90 years or so. It has higher wear resistance than the low alloy and plain carbon steels like 1095, 52100, O1, and similar steels, though the difference is not large. Several alloys were developed for cutting applications. They behave very similarly to carbon steels. They have carbide sizes similar to low alloy and plain carbon steels, but I have been unable to find grain size data from a reliable source.
The extra chromium in stainless makes stainless corrosion resistant. The minimum necessary is between 10 and 12 percent, depending on the source of information. When a stainless has enough carbon, it combines with the extra chromium to make chromium carbides, which are harder and more wear resistant than iron carbide.