P 228 - Investigations into the applicability of pressurised nitrogen-alloyed martensitic steels for surgical instruments and high-quality cutlery

Pressurised nitrogen-alloyed steels are a group of materials which, in addition to the required high corrosion resistance, can also exhibit excellent wear resistance, which, for example, essentially determines the cutting ability and edge retention of cutting edges. Two variants of pressurised nitrogen-alloyed steels were investigated as part of this research project. These are the grades X15CrNiMoN15-2-1 and X30CrMoN15-1, each with 0.30 to 0.50 %N. The tests on the two steel grades show that these pressurised nitrogen-alloyed steels, used for the production of high-quality cutting tools, have a significant potential for increasing wear resistance in the cutting performance test and corrosion resistance in the alternating immersion test. Both the hardness of the X15CrNiMoN15-2-1 steel and the cutting performance results are well above the required minimum values. The steel showed no signs of corrosion in the alternating immersion test. The difference to samples made of steel without a higher nitrogen content is considerable, so that the steel grade with nitrogen is also suitable for aggressive environmental conditions or for the manufacture of surgical instruments. The steel grade X30CrMoN15-1 with a higher carbon content even surpasses these results. Both the hardness values and the cutting performance results are higher or better than those of the other steel. The corrosion tests show the same outstanding resistance to the NaCI solution in the alternating immersion test. If pressurised nitrogen-alloyed steel grades become established on the market for high-quality cutlery and surgical instruments due to the advantages shown, the industry will achieve a leap in quality in the manufacture of highly stressed products. STUDIENGESELLSCHAFT STAHLANWENDUNG e.V.