Vibenite 290, Hardest Steel in the World?

[Chris_P_Bacon]

If you fancy yourself a steel nerd or just love new tech, here's a pretty cool Seven page article with the low down.

Linked from Metal AM Summer 2019 by Inovar Communications.

http://issuu.com/inovar-communications/ ... 019_sp/143

[Chris_P_Bacon]

Cool animations, I'd like to see the real thing.

Me too, JP

If I had a 3D-rendering of a decent (say mule sized) fixed blade. I'd certainly be willing to contact them with intent to have it mocked up (rough finish). Plus, I'd also be willing to forward it along to BBB, if he's interested in giving it a finish grind, with the freedom to test it as he sees fit.

If it's affordable, **** why not?

I'm also taken by the idea of the V350 corrosion resistant version as well.

[Mako109]

Vibenite is usually Wednesday night for me and the mrs. :D

[jpm2]

Cool animations, I'd like to see the real thing.

Me too, JP

If I had a 3D-rendering of a decent (say mule sized) fixed blade. I'd certainly be willing to contact them with intent to have it mocked up (rough finish). Plus, I'd also be willing to forward it along to BBB, if he's interested in giving it a finish grind, with the freedom to test it as he sees fit.

If it's affordable, **** why not?

I'm also taken by the idea of the V350 corrosion resistant version as well.

V350 stainless 20% carbide at 60 hrc? meh...
I'd probably opt for V280 20% carbide in the middle range, say 66-67 hrc.

[Chris_P_Bacon]

lol Mako, that's hilarious because the whole time I was reading it I was seeing it as the pronunciation vib-in-ite. Totally missed it.
:o
Split shifts have me all out of whack rite now. Too funny though, ya sicko :D

That'd be over the top if it was actually pronounced Vibe-Nite.

[Chris_P_Bacon]

V350 stainless 20% carbide at 60 hrc? meh...
I'd probably opt for V280 20% carbide in the middle range, say 66-67 hrc.

Yea I get it. I too, am kinda meh on low edge retention offerings as well, in this case however my thinking was more in line with testing purposes. More so for that part of the community that is more meh on edge retention, and more on ease of sharpening and stainless/corrosion proof. Seems like I remember Sal alluding to LC200 adding cost over steels like BD1N. Not trying to put words in his mouth. Just curious if V350 would cut down on that obstacle.

Actually truth be told, since these are all so new, would be best to get all five.

I'll send an email tomorrow, to see if they're receptive to this. It appears they're steel nerds (like some of us) from all the reading I've done. Lets hope they're receptive to the knife community. If not, I'm not out a dime.

[Larrin]

The V350 is an M390 clone. I think 290 is their only new steel but haven’t found the composition yet. I ordered the data sheets from the company. Though if someone can find it, a patent would have the composition.

I think additive manufacturing is fun but I don’t think it will lead to better blades. It’s made for small run production not better performance.

[Larrin]

Found the patent. I’m happy to see they haven’t managed to exceed the insane carbide content of Rex 121. 2.5C-11W-4Cr-16Co-5Mo-6.3V.
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2019103686A1/en

Edit: That steel is identical to Erasteel ASP 2080, which I believe is defunct. Kind of surprised they were able to patent it at all, maybe because they called it a 3D printing steel.

[JD Spydo]

35 years ago, I worked at a place that had many sets of metal rolls that measured 55"D x 80"L, and 35"D x 80"L. They were all certified at 72 HRC. Wish I had paid attention to the alloy and maker, but the only thing that jumped out reading the cert was the hardness.

Yea there's more going on here I think than just the 72HRC. It's related to the cemented carbides. I'm no rocket surgeon and don't pretend to be.

Thankfully, we have Larrin, his insight is much appreciated.

Yeah I was kind of wondering if it might be a "sintered" metal compound like "Tungsten Carbide" for instance? It would be interesting to know how it stacks up against certain types of ceramics. There has been a lot of progress in that area of materials>> for instance they are now making ceramic knives that are really performing well versus the ones they had about 15 years ago.

Also I'm thinking along the lines of Evil D's question regarding properties of being highly brittle at that range of hardness? I'm wondering if this steel would be practical for making knives with? Because if it has properties of being highly brittle then you might just as well use one of the newer high end ceramic knives. Just thinking out loud.

[JD Spydo]

Hey I just did a search on VBN steels and there is also a Vibenite 480 which is a cemented metal compound. I'm now wondering if Vibenite 290 is also a cemented or sintered steel compound? I also find it extremely interesting that it is a "Swedish" steel. In the past I've always had decent luck with Swedish steels like Sandvik for instance. The Swedes have actually made good steel for years now but you don't hear a lot about them for some reason.

Boy I bet that would be a monster to sharpen if they did make a knife blade out it :eek:

[Larrin]

Hey I just did a search on VBN steels and there is also a Vibenite 480 which is a cemented metal compound. I'm now wondering if Vibenite 290 is also a cemented or sintered steel compound? I also find it extremely interesting that it is a "Swedish" steel. In the past I've always had decent luck with Swedish steels like Sandvik for instance. The Swedes have actually made good steel for years now but you don't hear a lot about them for some reason.

Boy I bet that would be a monster to sharpen if they did make a knife blade out it :eek:

I gave the composition of the Vibenite 290 in my previous post.

[Deadboxhero]

Looks like Rex 121 is still the top dog, thanks for the links Larrin

[Chris_P_Bacon]

I’m happy to see they haven’t managed to exceed the insane carbide content of Rex 121

Not really understanding why that would make you happy?

Care to elaborate?

[Larrin]

I’m happy to see they haven’t managed to exceed the insane carbide content of Rex 121

Not really understanding why that would make you happy?

Care to elaborate?

I guess I was cheering for the underdog.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

As EvilD, CliffStamp, JDSpydo and others have said on here, the harder steel alloys begin to near ceramics in hardness.

[Deadboxhero]

As EvilD, CliffStamp, JDSpydo and others have said on here, the harder steel alloys begin to near ceramics in hardness.

Not quite, this is Rex121 with 32% carbide volume at 70rc at 0.004" bte and a 15dps.

It will still have the elastic nature of iron to iron bonds.
When sharpening it will also still form a burr.

Ceramic is not as elastic and could fracture flexing the edge and also does not form a burr when sharpening.

[Chrisswe]

Great to see so many interesting comments. My name is Chris and I work for VBN Components. I'm also a knife enthusiast like yourselves, and I can assure you for Vibenite®290s hardness :)

[JRinFL]

Great to see so many interesting comments. My name is Chris and I work for VBN Components. I'm also a knife enthusiast like yourselves, and I can assure you for Vibenite®290s hardness :)

Hi Chris, welcome aboard! Maybe you can get your company to work with Spyderco on a mule blade?

[JacksonKnives]

Great to see so many interesting comments. My name is Chris and I work for VBN Components. I'm also a knife enthusiast like yourselves, and I can assure you for Vibenite®290s hardness :)

Hi Chris, welcome aboard! Maybe you can get your company to work with Spyderco on a mule blade?

A mule team project with custom geometry parameters maybe? (Pick the profile, thickness, bevel type, etc.)

[sal]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to our forum. We're always interested in new and different blade materials. Do you have this material in any type of a slab? Something we can make a test piece out of?

sal