For all of you theoretical physicists.....

Walking Man

Walking Man

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Okay, I've got a question for anyone who likes to delve into the possibly unknowable.....
I've be thinking. The AK47 is an ultratough sword,
BUT!!!! Would a differentially tempered sword made out of INFI be even stronger?
It absolutely blew me away when I saw the pics of the sword being thrown, but I can't help wondering.... Can the toughest get tougher?
 
NO. There is nothing more tough then Jerry tempered INFI. He uses 20 year old scotch for pete's sake! Come on WM, who you kidding? You already know the answer to this! ;)
 
ya, i dont think it would be. infi is pertty well chip proof as is, and all differentially heat treating would do (and i recall talk of infi being very good at transfering heat through the matrix making it difficult to do so) would make it more bendable. that has the problem of not being able to put as much weight on it and it maintaining its stiffness as you do so.

i dont think there would really be any real benefit considering how infi works now if you were to do so.
 
The reason for differentially tempering a blade is to add toughness that does not exists in the steel in the first place. Hence, you can simulate a tougher steel and still retain good edge holding qualities. That is what makes 5160 and 52100. When you differentially temper them they are tough and hold an edge well. Differentially tempering S7 would be worthless as it is already super tough. Trying to get the most harness out of it would be top priorty. INFI is already super tough and with a Rc of 60 throughout it is super strong and stiff. So you get the best of all worlds.

Similarly, having a brittle steel hardenned to 60 Rc throughout would make it stiff, but it would snap instead of bending first.

Ithink that Differentially Tempering INFI would be good to some extent if you wanted to make a competition cutting blade that would last just for a Bladesmith competition. I would get the Edge to 63-64 Rc and then temper the rest of the blade to 50 or so. But for a long term use knife, I don't think I would ever want to change what Busse has done with the HT process. It is about as good as it can get.
 
On a side note:

Speaking as an actual theoretical physicist, I just want you to know that this has nothing to do with physics or theory. This is a practical issue. Think "materials engineer".

Rick
 
Well Normy, You see Infi is..............



I was trying to pull off a Cliff Claven. :rolleyes:
 
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