What is equivalent to 52100 steel?
52100 is equivalent to DIN 100Cr6, GB GCr15 steel. Most applications can replace each others.
Chrome steel (SAE 52100) is used for specific ball bearing applications where corrosion resistance is not a major concern. 440C is the standard choice for a wide variety of military and commercial applications, as it is the preferred material with the best availability.
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Mechanical properties.
| Properties | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Poisson's ratio | 0.27-0.30 | 0.27-0.30 |
| Hardness, Brinell | - | - |
| Hardness, Knoop (converted from Rockwell C hardness) | 875 | 875 |
| Hardness, Rockwell C (quenched in oil from 150°C tempered) | 62 | 62 |
SAE 52100 is an alloy steel with high carbon with chromium as an alloying element, which has been widely applied in rolling bearings [1]. The traditional heat treatment process for SAE 52100 steel consists of a quenching process followed by a tempering step at low temperature.
Vanadium carbides are among the hardest that form in steel, and chromium carbides are in between iron carbide and vanadium carbide. Steels with very high vanadium content like Vanadis 8, CPM-10V, K390, CPM-15V, etc. have extremely high edge retention.
Carbon steel knives are often the sharpest steel for knives. They're sharper and harder than stainless steel knives. An authentic carbon steel chef's knife is exceptionally sharp, but it is also vulnerable to chipping if not used correctly.
Heat Treatment of 52100
The typical recommended heat treatment for 52100 is a 1500-1550°F austenitize for 10-30 minutes followed by an oil quench and a temper from 300-500°F [1]. Some knifemakers have recommended a 1475°F austenitize.
A chromium alloy steel traditionally used for bearings and other high-pressure applications, 52100 is excellent to use in forging, grinding, and cutlery production with a reputation for great toughness and durability on its own or forge-welded to other steels, such as 410 or 416.
This information helps to determine which is more suitable for testing the material. However, the Rockwell hardness scale C is harder than B and unsuitable for thin and soft materials like aluminum and brass. It is often used for harder and very thick materials like hardened steel.
Carbon steel (or high carbon chrome steel) is the most commonly used material for bearings. It has slightly better low noise characteristics than stainless steel. In addition, its hardness means it has better load capacity than stainless steel bearings.
Does 52100 bearing steel rust?
Because of the low chromium levels in 52100 steel, it has very low corrosion resistance compared to other higher chromium tool steels. In applications where corrosion is less of an issue, 52100 tool steel is considered an ideal, affordable option, offering a very fine grain with superior edge retention.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) designates SAE steel grades. These are four digit numbers which represent chemical composition standards for steel specifications.
Shirogami #1 - The hardest white paper steel. It will stay sharp the longest but can be a tad brittle under aggressive use. Shirogami #2 - Most commonly used type of white steel. Good edge retention and very easy to sharpen.
The steel with the highest slicing edge retention has the maximum amount of vanadium carbide and it is heat treated to a high hardness. Therefore among available knife steels we would expect a steel like 15V or Rex 121 to have the best slicing edge retention because of the high MC carbide volume.
Although steel technology has changed 440c stainless steel is still considered a premium blade steel. 440c is extremely corrosion resistant, has incredible wear resistance and is known for holding an edge well. This steel is commonly used in bearings and kitchen cutlery.
USA Mower Blades are made of carbon steel with a hardness of 38-42 Rockwell.
A2 Tool Steel
In terms of holding a cutting edge, it compares well to 440C, meaning it will hold a nice working edge for a long time. A2 is great for any fixed blade, tactical or combat knives, but you won't find it in many EDC knives.
Knives with an Obsidian blade are considered the sharpest in the world, but this material is not fit for making kitchen knives as they're extremely coarse and brittle.
Double quenching and tempering has been used in order to obtain homogenous lath martensite and simultaneously improve both the strength and toughness properties of the steel.
52100 is recommended for through hardening by oil quenching in sections up to 0.5 inch. For sections over 0.5 inch it may be necessary to water-quench for full hardness.
How long do you leave a knife in quench oil?
You can heat it up on your stove or use your forge to heat up a piece of rebar before plunging it into the oil to raise the temperature. For the blade to harden, it needs to cool below 900℉. Wait about 10 to 15 seconds before pulling the blade out and checking it for warping.
I find 52100 a little harder to sharpen, than say, White or Blue, but once you get it there, the edge stays there for weeks with minimum stropping or touch ups. I got one of my 52100 back from a review and it came with one of sharpest edge I have ever experienced (I am still working on my sharpening).
While generally not used for welding, 52100 steel is particularly useful in bearings, mill rolls, and vehicle parts thanks to its combination of strength, hardness, and workability. The most common form of 52100 stock is bar stock, but it can also be found in tube, wire, flat-rolled, and forging stocks as well.
The hardest and therefore the most abrasion resistant carbides typically found in tool steels are the vanadium carbides.
The Rockwell scale C, also known as HRC, is a method used to measure the hardness of a knife. A higher hardness level means the knife can be sharper and maintain its edge for extended periods. Typically, kitchen knives have a hardness range of 50-65+ HRC, with most consumer knives falling between 52-62 HRC.
On the Mohs scale, talc has a hardness of 1 and a diamond has a hardness of 10 (according to the new scale, 15).
4140 (modified) Cold Finished, Annealed Alloy Bar Stock
It is offered in the cold finished annealed condition. Typical hardness is Rockwell “C” 19/24. Typical tensile strength 114,000 PSI. Its wear resistant properties far exceed that of “cold roll” steels.
Due to its higher molybdenum content, 316 stainless steel has better corrosion resistance than 440c stainless steel. This means that it is more resistant to rusting and staining, making it a better choice for applications where corrosion is a concern.
440C stainless steel derives its corrosion resistance from the inclusion of chromium, and is comparable to grade 304.
7cr17 is a Chinese stainless steel that is similar to 440c in terms of composition and properties. The main difference between 7cr17 and 440c is that 7cr17 contains more carbon, which gives it better edge retention and corrosion resistance.
What is 52100 chrome steel?
52100 is a relatively simple steel with 1% carbon and 1.5% chromium, and small amounts of Mn and Si. 52100 steel has been in use since at least 1905 [1]. It was developed for use in bearings.
Nippon Steel touts: 1,000-N grade steel is the world's strongest ultra high strength steel for building structures that was developed to improve the earthquake resistance of buildings.
Stainless steel grades 410, 420 and 440 – martensitic stainless steels. This type of stainless steel is magnetic primarily because it contains large quantities of ferrite in its chemical composition, which is a compound of iron and other elements.
Carpenter Stainless Type 440C is a high-carbon chromium steel designed to provide stainless properties with maximum hardness.
Edge retention is the steel's ability to hold an edge under repeated use. The 440c steel has good edge retention and can withstand high wear before the blade needs sharpening. The combined effects of carbon and chromium give the steel a high wear resistance.
The difference between D2 and 440C is that D2 has better edge retention and better wear resistance. However, 440C has better corrosion resistance and is easier to sharpen. It is mostly personal preference. If you need better edge retention, go for D2.
CPM 154 offers better corrosion resistance, better wear resistance and better hot-hardness than 440C, plus higher toughness. For knifemakers, it offers better edge retention and chipping resistance than 440C. Because of the CPM processing, CPM 154 is easier to machine and grind than standard 154 CM.
A chromium alloy steel traditionally used for bearings and other high-pressure applications, 52100 is excellent to use in forging, grinding, and cutlery production with a reputation for great toughness and durability on its own or forge-welded to other steels, such as 410 or 416.