XHP Steel – History and Properties

[Larrin]

New article about the history of how XHP steel was designed. Also information about the general properties of XHP and how they compare to other knife steels like toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/07/29/xhp-steel-history-and-properties/

 

[Willie71]

Thanks for the article Larrin. This is a steel I have not used at all, so I have no real first hand experience with it.

 

[Storm W]

I enjoyed this one as I enjoy all of them. Its interesting to see some of the how's and why'sand to take some of the mysteries out of picking a steel.

Something that reading your articles always makes me wonder is what would it take to crowdfund and make a steel for knife makers.

 

[Ocelot85]

I enjoyed this one as I enjoy all of them. Its interesting to see some of the how's and why'sand to take some of the mysteries out of picking a steel.

Something that reading your articles always makes me wonder is what would it take to crowdfund and make a steel for knife makers.

I think the hardest part of that would be getting knife makers to agree on anything about the chemistry lol.

 

[Larrin]

If anything like that would be done it would either be a single design target of my choosing or to vote between two or three pre-selected ideas.

 

[Jason Volkert]

Great read Larrin!

 

[DeadboxHero]

I enjoyed this one as I enjoy all of them. Its interesting to see some of the how's and why'sand to take some of the mysteries out of picking a steel.

Something that reading your articles always makes me wonder is what would it take to crowdfund and make a steel for knife makers.

Agreed

 

[Storm W]

If anything like that would be done it would either be a single design target of my choosing or to vote between two or three pre-selected ideas.

I know one time in the niobiom article you said something about it and I have been interested ever since. Things are up in the air for me now but it is something that I think could be super awesome.

 

[Larrin]

I know one time in the niobiom article you said something about it and I have been interested ever since. Things are up in the air for me now but it is something that I think could be super awesome.

That article had a small section about “new steel” which is now called NioMax. It is still in the works.

 

[John mc c]

Another great article larrin thank you

Something that reading your articles always makes me wonder is what would it take to crowdfund and make a steel for knife makers.

This is something I've often wondered too
I may be mistaken but I think I remember achim weitz of lohman steel saying in a thread here that he could do a make of steel to your specs
It was in a discussion about tungsten alloyed steel and it could have been in reply to larrin
I've been day dreaming about 1" round super blue ever since

 

[Larrin]

I've been day dreaming about 1" round super blue ever since

Achim recently sent me some 1.2562. I don't know if it's available in round bar or not. Should be more wear resistant than Super Blue.

 

[John mc c]

Achim recently sent me some 1.2562. I don't know if it's available in round bar or not. Should be more wear resistant than Super Blue.

Super super blue.nice
I'm just guessing really but with that much W I'd say it wouldn't be very forgable

 

[Larrin]

Super super blue.nice
I'm just guessing really but with that much W I'd say it wouldn't be very forgable

Should forge ok, WC dissolves at lower temperatures. German bladesmiths have used it in the past.

 

[Storm W]

That article had a small section about “new steel” which is now called NioMax. It is still in the works.

What does that look like?

What would it take to work up a new steel? Is it possible to get access to equipment to make a small test batch? Is there anything that could be tried that would be a steel that is fundamentally different than anything that is available now. For instance I believe in one article that you talked about nickel isn't common in knife steels but could be added for some additional toughness?

 

[Larrin]

What does that look like?

What would it take to work up a new steel? Is it possible to get access to equipment to make a small test batch? Is there anything that could be tried that would be a steel that is fundamentally different than anything that is available now. For instance I believe in one article that you talked about nickel isn't common in knife steels but could be added for some additional toughness?

A test batch was already produced. That is how we got the data we have like micrographs, hardness, toughness, and CATRA edge retention. Currently among stainless steels there are two primary options:
1) High toughness, low wear resistance (AEB-L, 14C28N, Nitro-V, LC200N)
2) High wear resistance, low toughness (CPM-154, S30V, M390/20CV, Elmax)
NioMax is designed to be in between, basically a stainless 3V was the design target. Below in the chart are experimental values for toughness and CATRA edge retention showing where it sits.

 

[Ocelot85]

A test batch was already produced. That is how we got the data we have like micrographs, hardness, toughness, and CATRA edge retention. Currently among stainless steels there are two primary options:
1) High toughness, low wear resistance (AEB-L, 14C28N, Nitro-V, LC200N)
2) High wear resistance, low toughness (CPM-154, S30V, M390/20CV, Elmax)
NioMax is designed to be in between, basically a stainless 3V was the design target. Below in the chart are experimental values for toughness and CATRA edge retention showing where it sits.
View attachment 1170820

Sounds like an awesome steel Larrin, who smelted the test batch and what did they say about making it available to the market?

 

[Larrin]

Sounds like an awesome steel Larrin, who smelted the test batch and what did they say about making it available to the market?

It’s only smelting if it was produced from iron ore. This was melted. Alpha Knife Supply supported a good portion of the development costs. We are making decisions about production right now.