65x13 (Stainless)

Steel 65x13 is used for the production of cutting tools that require high corrosion resistance. Due to its use in medicine (for the manufacture of scalpels and other long-lasting devices), this steel is also referred to as ‘medical’. Knives made from 65×13 steel, if used as intended, retain their properties for a long time – they do not rust, or break and are durable. They can be easily and quickly sharpened at home.

Composition of Steel 65×13

All steel consists of two main elements - iron and carbon. Special additives - alloying elements - are used to produce a material with the desired properties. The first digits in the steel grade name indicate the carbon content in hundredths of a per cent; the others (after the letters indicating the additive) indicate the percentage of a particular alloying element. According to the name, 65X13 consists of 0.65% carbon and 13% chromium (X), the remaining additives of which there are less than 1% are not specified in the name. Steel 65X13 is a highly carbon-rich and heavily alloyed fusion. The hardness of metal is directly proportional to the amount of carbon it contains. The main alloying component, chromium, makes the steel stainless. Apart from chromium, which is indicated in the steel marking, there are only minor impurities in the alloy, so knives are easily sharpenable, and the blades can be made in almost any shape.

The following additives are used in the production of 65X13 steel:
• Chromium (Cr) 12.00-14.00% - is a part of any stainless steel, responsible for resistance to corrosion processes. It makes the metal water-resistant and increases resistance to mechanical wear.
• Manganese (Mn) 0.25-0.8% is also used during steel production. It increases hardness, resistance to mechanical stress, and shock loads.
• Silicon (Si) 0.20-0.5% - improves elasticity, corrosion resistance, and immunity for oxidation at high temperatures.
• Nickel (Ni) 0.5% - is responsible for the strength of the alloy.
• Phosphorus (P) 0.030% – a harmful processing additive. As its quantity in the alloy increases, the strength of the metal increases, but so does its brittleness.
• Sulphur (S) 0.025% - also an additive needed for steel production. It makes the metal more brittle and reduces ant-corrosion properties but increases plasticity and resistance to mechanical wear.

To achieve the desired performance, sometimes the following components are added to the alloy:
• Molybdenum (Mo) – increases elasticity and anti-corrosive properties.
• Titanium (Ti) – increases the strength characteristics of the steel and improves its machinability and resistance to corrosion.
• Vanadium (V) – improves the strength properties of the alloy and increases its hardness.
• Tungsten (W) – enhances the cutting properties of the blades. This component is used in expensive knife models.

Hardness of Steel 65X13

Stainless steel 65X13, due to its composition, is of increased hardness. Because of this parameter, the knife is wear-resistant. The hardness of the knife is measured in HRC units according to the Rockwell scale. 65X13 corresponds to a value from 54 to 59 HRC when properly heat-treated. To determine this indicator, a sample is placed under a press and compressed against it with a diamond cone (at a 120° angle) or a ball with a force of 150 kgf. Hardness values of 54-58 HRC correspond to good general-purpose knives. Especially durable products have a hardness of 59-64 HRC. For instance, the hardness of a diamond is 100 HRC. You might encounter two numbers in the marking; in this case, the first value is intended for the blade centre, and the second - for the cutting edge.