stainless heat treat question

[dogwood dan]

I know that stainless steel (i use s35nv and cpm-154) need to be heat treated in a o2 free environment but I have not been able to fined the explanation of why. Also could any one recommend a good text/source for knife making specific metallurgy info. I have learned the what i need to do from books, my apprenticeship, and data sheets, but I would like to learn more of the why I have to do these things.

thank you for your time and any advice you can offer

Dan

 

[mete]

The higher the temperature the higher the chemical energy [ oxidation] .
Below the critical temperature little oxidation occurs but that increases as you go higher. 2000 F is very high.

 

[silver_pilate]

The high temps with lots of oxidation as mete suggested in addition to the longer soak times at such high temps for high alloy steels will yield tons of surface decarb and even pitting if not protected. A simple SS foil wrap crimped well greatly limits the oxygen in contact with the blade which likes to scavenge the carbon from the steel and thus limits the negative effects of time at high temp.

--Nathan