AUS10 Steel
AUS 10 is stainless steel produced by the Japanese company Aichi Steel. Usual hardness around 58-61 HRC. When properly heat treated, AUS 10 is a very good steel for its class (Top in AUS series). Good wear resistance, toughness, workability, and reasonably priced. It should be noted that any steel is good as its heat treatment. AUS 10 steel can even compete with some of the premium steels when properly heat treated.
It is used by many manufacturers for knives of the average or slightly above average price category. AUS 10 is roughly analogous to the 440C.
AUS 10 steel has practically the same carbon content as 440C, but there is a little less chromium in it, therefore corrosion resistance is lower, but the hardness little more.
Composition of AUS 10 stainless steel: Carbon 0.95-1.1%; Chromium 13-14.5%; Vanadium 0.1-0.27%; Molybdenum - 0.1-0.3%; Nickel - 0.5%; Manganese - 0.5%; Sulfur - 0.03%;
For the better performance cryo-treatment is highly recommended (improves edge resistance and strength)
AUS 10 analogs: X105CrMo17 (Germany), 440C (USA), 102Cr17Mo (China)
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