Choosing the correct steel is one of the decisions that most influences the life of an industrial blade. A quality that is very resistant to wear is not always the best option: if the process generates knocks, foreign bodies or bending, excessive hardness can lead to dents and breaks.
Wear, impact and dimensional stability
Before selecting the material, the processed product, contamination, working speed, edge geometry and type of support must be analyzed. In clean plastic, abrasion usually dominates; Unforeseeable impacts appear in mixed waste; and in long blades, stability during heat treatment is especially important.
Commonly used steels
1.2379
Cold work steel with high wear resistance. It is common in blades for granulators, plastic cutting and applications where the aim is to maintain sharpness during long cycles.
1.2080
It offers high abrasive resistance and good behavior in robust parts. May be suitable for certain mills and continuous cuts where the risk of impact is controlled.
AISI S5
Its greater toughness makes it an interesting alternative for processes with impacts, heterogeneous materials or risk of entry of foreign bodies.
1.7131
It is used in supports and mechanical components that require a resistant core and a surface suitable for hardening treatments.
Hardness must be adapted to the application
The same steel can behave very differently depending on hardness, heat treatment and finish. The goal is not to achieve the highest HRC figure, but to balance edge retention, toughness and resharpenability.
To recommend a quality we need to know the machine, the material processed, the type of wear and any history of breakage.
Check out our catalog of blades and spare parts or submit your application data using the technical form.
Heat treatment is as important as steel
The composition defines the potential of the material, but the result depends on the quenching and tempering cycle. Temperature, time, cooling and stress relief influence hardness, toughness and stability. A vacuum oven treatment helps control oxidation and decarburization.
After treatment, grinding must avoid heating that alters the cutting edge area. Flatness and parallelism are especially critical in long mill and guillotine blades.
How to compare two materials
Testing must be performed with equivalent geometry, hardness, fit and processed material. Record tons, hours, number of sharpenings and type of failure. Comparing only the replacement date can be misleading if production has changed.
Signs that guide the selection
- Uniform wear and progressive loss of edge: prioritize abrasive resistance.
- Chips and breaks: check for contamination, support and tenacity.
- Deformation: check section, treatment and loads.
- Corrosion: study stainless steel or adequate protection.
Frequently asked questions
Can steel be known by hardness?
No. Many qualities reach similar values. Reliable identification may require chemical analysis and knowledge of treatment.
Does more HRC mean longer life?
Not necessarily. Excessive hardness can reduce impact tolerance and cause premature breakage.
Does the same steel serve for rotor and stator?
It can be used, but both positions receive different charges. It is advisable to study geometry, support and wear mode.
When to use a stainless quality?
When hygiene, corrosion or contact with food require it, also considering hardening and finishing capacity.
The final selection should look for stability and cost per ton, not just nominal hardness.