This extremely well written handbook is a must for anyone interested in the properties of iron and steel.

Even more invaluable for anyone planning on making their own blades.

This handbook is written in easy to understand laymen terms and illustrated throughout.

Covered in this comprehensive guide:

Pure Iron

  • Summary

Solutions and Phase Diagrams

  • Solutions
  • Phase Diagrams
  • Summary

Steel and the Fe–C Phase Diagram

  • Low Carbon Steels (Hyoeutectoid Steels)
  • High Carbon Steels (Hypereutectoid Steels)
  • Eutectoid Steels
  • The A1, Ae1,Ac1, Ar1 Nomenclature
  • References
  • Summary

The Various Microstructures of Room Temperature Steel

  • Optical Microscope Images of Steel Grains
  • Room Temperature Microstructures of Hypo– and Hypereutectoid Steels
  • Microstructure of Quenched Steel
  • Martensite
  • Two Types of Martensite
  • The Ms and Mf Temperatures
  • Martensite and Retained Austenite
  • Bainite
  • Spheroidized Microstructures
  • Summary

Mechanical Properties

  • The Tensile Test
  • The Hardness Test
  • The Notched Impact Test
  • Fatigue Failure and Residual Stresses
  • References
  • Summary

The Low Alloy AISI Steels

  • Manganese in Steel
  • Effect of Alloying Elements on Fe–C Phase Diagram
  • References
  • Summary

Diffusion

  • Carburizing and Decarburizing
  • References
  • Summary

Control of Grain Size by Heat Treatment and Forging

  • Grain Size
  • Grain Growth
  • New Grains formed by Phase Transformation
  • New Grains formed by Recrystallization
  • Effects of Alloying Elements
  • Particle Drag
  • Solute Drag
  • References
  • Summary

Hardenability of Steel

  • IT Diagrams
  • Hardenability Demonstration Experiment
  • CT Diagrams
  • The Jominy End Quench
  • Hardenability Bands
  • References
  • Summary

Tempering

  • Tempered Martensite Embrittlement (TME)
  • Effect of %C on toughness
  • Effect of Alloying Elements
  • References
  • Summary

Austenitization

  • Single Phase Austenitization
  • Homogenization
  • Austenite Grain Growth
  • Two–Phase Austenitization
  • References
  • Summary

Quenching

  • Special Quenching techniques
  • Martempering
  • Austempering
  • Variation on Conventional Austempering
  • Characterization of Quench Bath Cooling Perfomance
  • Oil Quenchants
  • Polymer Quenchants
  • Salt Bath Quenchants
  • References
  • Summary

Stainless Steels

  • Ferritic Stainless Steels
  • Martensitic Stainless Steels
  • Optimizing Martensitic Stainless Steels for Cutlery Applications
  • Example Heat Treatment using AEB–L
  • Austenitic Stainless Steels
  • Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels (PHSS)
  • References
  • Summary

Tool Steels

  • Tool Steel Classification
  • The Carbides in Tool Steels
  • Special heat treatment effects with tool steels
  • References
  • Summary

Solidification

  • Factor 1 – Microsegregation
  • Factor 2 – Grain Size and Shape
  • Factor 3 – Porosity
  • References
  • Summary

Cast Irons

  • Gray and White Cast Irons
  • Ductile and Malleable Cast Iron
  • References
  • Summary

Index

  • Appendix A – Temperature Measurement A1
  • Thermocouples A1
  • Radiation Pyrometers A3
  • References A7
  • Stainless Steels for Knife–makers B