VG1 is the starting point of our V steel series, which is refined using high-quality raw materials with minimal impurities. It is a stainless blade steel with a fine structure, high toughness, exceptional hot forging, easy heat treatment, and excellent corrosion resistance.
Since it contains 1.0% carbon (C), hard primary and secondary carbides coexist in the matrix, contributing to wear resistance.
It contains 14% chromium (Cr), which is maximally effective in improving corrosion resistance and strength. Molybdenum (Mo), together with chromium (Cr), forms hard complex carbides, which greatly contribute to improved wear resistance and corrosion resistance.
VG1 has achieved the four major requirements for knives: (1) high hardness, (2) high toughness, (3) high wear resistance, and (4) high corrosion resistance, making it suitable for a wide range of uses, including knives, hair cutting shears, and industrial machine blades for food processing.
C | Cr | Mo | Hardness | |
---|---|---|---|---|
VG1 | 1.00 | 14.00 | 0.30 | HRC61≦ |
VG2 and VG5 are favored for the manufacturing of thin blades forthese reasons.
1. VG2 and VG5 are made with refined low impurity raw material, they make a significant improvement in their mechanical properties (flexural strength ・ yield point ・ elongation ・ reduction of area ・ impact strength), and achieve both positive grindability and satisfactory hot forging easier.
2. Both grades have excellent qualities and structure required from stainless cutlery steel.
In addition to this the increased levels of C (chromium) and C(carbon) are higher than the more than common stainless steel grades. The eutectic carbide crystallization is suppressed, to make the hardness as high as possible with well-balanced element ratios, and a uniform structure of refined carbides.
3. Refinement during material processing.
Even though carefully selected steel ingots for the raw material with low impurities and segregation, it is impossible to eliminate them completely. Accordingly, the materials are refined at the hot rolling to diffuse segregation, and refine coarse grain structures. Heat treatment is used at various stages throughout the manufacturing process so that the steel has the optimum grain structure.
The composition of VG2 improves corrosion resistance by reducing the carbon (C) content. The addition of molybdenum (Mo) also increases the toughness of the steel. It has the necessary hardness and abrasion resistance for a blade, and is designed for easy sharpening and excellent edge retention. It is widely used for blades in food processing machines.
The amount of C and Mo in VG5 is higher than in VG2, and the addition of vanadium (V) has resulted in finer carbides which creates a good balance of hardness, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance. It is widely popular in consumer kitchen tools.
C | Cr | Mo | V | Hardness | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VG2 | 0.65 | 14.00 | 0.15 | — | HRC58≦ |
VG5 | 0.75 | 14.00 | 0.30 | 0.15 | HRC59≦ |
※The chemical composition values listed on this website are representative data for the standard values of each steel grade.