Can we use titanium in cutlery?
The different grades of titanium
First of all, the titanium and alloys of titanium are classified as a grade of 1 to 12.
For titanium grades from 1 to 4: we talk about commercially pure shades, that is to say with very low alloy rates.
The most used nuance in this range in industry is grade 2 because of its excellent corrosion resistance and deformation ability
From grade 5, we talk about alloy of titanium. Each with different physical and mechanical characteristics.
Grade 5 also called Ta6V is the most commonly used nuance in the industry, whether in aerospace or medical. It contains aluminum and vanadium and offers a very good elasticity.
Use of titanium in cutlery
In cutlery, the titanium Grade 5 is used in particular for the manufacture of technical elements of the knife such as turntables of folding knives type Liner-Lock for example. You can also do a carcass if you want a Frame Lock knife.
The titanium is a lightweight material that has a lower 50% density than stainless steel. In addition, it has an effect emerged in the delivery state, so it does not need heat treatment.
For the aesthetic side, the titanium Can also be anodized or heated to vary its color. This is how we can find it in what is called Damascus titanium : Different grades of titanium will give different shades to the heating, for aesthetically very interesting rendering. The same goes for the hardware in titanium, that we can color with the torch.
To conclude ...
Can we make a knife blade in titanium ?
Yes, it is quite possible to make blades in titanium. This material is very resistant to corrosion and for some very particular applications, blades are made from this material.
The hardness of this material does not allow to have a sustainably effective cutting edge. This is why it is used for the manufacture of single-use blades such as surgical blades or seafarel life knife blades.
