I took my Para 3 Maxamet and collected a few images on an electron microscope. Factory edge - looks really smooth at low mag but high mag reveals a micro-toothiness.
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Close look at Para 3 Maxamet Edge
- Thread starter mblanton
- Start date
UncleBoots
Gold Member
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- May 27, 2020
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Dear Santa. For Christmas 2023, please send an electron microscope. Please give my best to the Mrs.
Amazing images.
Amazing images.
DeadboxHero
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Mar 22, 2014
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Great pictures, don't be afraid to take more pictures
thank you for sharing.
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Anyone know what the little white balls around the edges in the high mag photos mean? Some kind of alien flying saucer maybe?
Where Mr. Steel Guy when we need him?
Where Mr. Steel Guy when we need him?
DeadboxHero
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Mar 22, 2014
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Carbides
I was curious about those to so I ran an EDS (X-Ray) map. The white dots correspond mostly to high concentration regions of vanadium (V) and tungsten (W). Interesting to see powdered metals and the dispersions of the metals in the matrix.
DeadboxHero
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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That pictures too small to see.
Yes these steels are making complex carbides that boost the wear resistance and strength.
These carbides are harder than the surrounding matrix.
Maxamet is composed of M6C and MC carbides.
White ones are M6C with are mainly rich in Iron and Tungsten with lower vanadium and chromium and carbon.
Hence they are softer at 1800Hv than the darker grey MC carbides at 2800Hv which are richer in Vanadium and Carbon with lower amounts of the other metallic elements.
John Phillips
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- Jan 13, 2020
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Wow. Incredible. I would absolutely love to see a Rockstead knife under the same magnification!!!!
I’ll add more pics of other blade steels from time to time. I don’t own a Rockstead but agree that it would be interesting to see. Also limited in size to about 3.5” in length as to what can fit in our SEM chamber i.e. folders are disassembled to fit and actually be able to pump down the SEM chamber to a workable pressure (~10^-5 Torr) in a reasonable amount of time.
DeadboxHero - I agree the pic is a little too small. Much easier to see in the native software I use for EDS on a 24” monitor. Relegated to screen shots to get something I can post.
DeadboxHero - I agree the pic is a little too small. Much easier to see in the native software I use for EDS on a 24” monitor. Relegated to screen shots to get something I can post.