8th Annual WML Academic Symposium

Presenter(s): Samuel G. Thompson and Nelly Zavala
Title: Analysis of a Pocket Knife to Determine Metallurgical Properties
Developed under the guidance of Dr. Ana Rynearson , Engineering

The blade of a high carbon stainless steel pocketknife was cut into samples to analyze the properties of the metal and processing methods used. The knife was advertised as 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel, a derivative of 440A steel. Analysis of the microstructure revealed elongation in the grains, suggesting that cold rolling was involved in the blade’s manufacturing process. Microscope images were then compared to a verified image of the microstructures of standard 440A steel and looked nearly identical from the cross-sectional view. Based on these results, the steel specifications listed on the packaging for the knife were deemed accurate.