14C28N steel from Sandvik – Properties, Benefits & Care

Introduction

Developed by the Swedish company Sandvik, 14C28N steel is one of the company's newest stainless steels. It was specifically developed for knives to ensure high sharpness and edge retention, while also offering good rust resistance. In this article, we offer a comprehensive overview of the properties, benefits, and applications of this steel.

📌 Summary at a glance

Sandvik's 14C28N steel impresses with its outstanding sharpness, corrosion resistance, and hardness. It is ideal for high-quality knives that require durability and low maintenance.

What is Sandvik 14C28N steel?

14C28N is a martensitic stainless steel specifically developed for the demands of the knife industry. Sandvik's goal was to create a steel that can be hardened to 62 HRC without compromising the microstructure. This results in high sharpness, good edge retention, and easy resharpening without micro-chips. The steel contains just enough chromium (14%, hence the designation "14C") to be considered a stainless steel. Chromium is the most important element for rust resistance.

🔎 Excursion: Chrome

A steel is considered "stainless" if it contains at least 10.5% chromium . Chromium forms an invisible protective layer (chromium oxide) on the surface of the steel, preventing moisture from attacking the steel and causing rust. With 14% chromium, 14C28N offers excellent rust resistance, ideal for knives that frequently come into contact with water or food.

Chemical composition of 14C28N steel

The chemical composition of 14C28N is carefully balanced.

Phosphorus increases hardness and corrosion resistance, combining the best properties of carbon and chromium. Nitrogen partially replaces the carbon and, after heat treatment, increases the hardness of the steel. This makes 14C28N a so-called "nitro steel."

Hardness and hardenability

The steel relies more on non-metallic elements than metallic ones, which is why fewer carbides are formed during heat treatment. 14C28N can be hardened to a hardness of 62 HRC (Rockwell hardness) without affecting the microstructure. This hardness ensures high wear resistance and a long cutting edge life. The manufacturer Sandvik recommends a hardness range between 55 and 62 HRC.

📖 Learn more about hardness

If you would like to learn more about the scientific basis of hardness, we recommend our detailed article: The Science of Hardness .

In the graph, you can see that the steel's hardness is initially very high after hardening (approx. 61 HRC). When the steel is subsequently tempered at different temperatures, the hardness decreases until it reaches its lowest point at around 300°C (approx. 56 HRC). After that, the hardness increases slightly. This shows that higher temperatures soften the steel, making it tougher and more resistant to fracture, although some of its sharpness may be lost.

Source: Sandvik

Influence of hardening conditions on the microstructure of the steel

The microstructure of 14C28N can vary greatly depending on the hardening conditions. A hardening temperature that is too high results in a coarse structure with few carbides and high softness, which reduces wear resistance. Cooling that is too slow after austenitizing can cause carbides to precipitate at the grain boundaries, causing brittleness and reduced corrosion resistance. Optimized hardening conditions ensure evenly distributed carbides and an optimal austenite content, enabling an ideal balance between hardness, wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

Edge retention and sharpenability

One advantage of the steel's relatively wide hardness range is that the knives can be manufactured for a wide variety of applications. The steel is ideal for kitchen knives that need to combine good edge retention with high corrosion resistance.

Application areas of 14C28N steel

Sandvik recommends 14C28N steel especially for high-quality kitchen knives, hunting knives, fishing knives, and pocket knives of all kinds. Its excellent balance between hardness, corrosion resistance, and sharpenability makes it a good choice for both professional users and enthusiasts. That's why we chose this steel for our "Vitos" kitchen knife series.

Sharpening and care instructions for 14C28N steel

When it comes to maintenance, the steel benefits from its non-metallic components. Due to the low carbides content, the steel can be sharpened more easily and quickly with a whetstone. Thanks to the targeted use of phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon, maintenance is minimal compared to higher-carbon steels.

🛠️ Care instructions for 14C28N steel

To ensure the best possible lifespan and performance of a knife, the following care instructions should be observed:

• Cleaning: After each use, clean the knife with warm water and a mild detergent. Do not use scouring pads or harsh cleaning agents.
• Drying: After cleaning, dry the knife thoroughly immediately to avoid water stains and corrosion.
• Sharpening: Regular resharpening with a suitable whetstone or grinding system to maintain optimal cutting performance.

Our experience with 14C28N

To put it briefly: we've had very positive experiences with this steel. It's ideal for our kitchen knives and offers a solid balance between sharpness and durability, which the steel offers in daily use. That's why we also use it in our high-quality Vitos chef's knife series. You can find these in our shop, of course.

Conclusion

Sandvik's 14C28N steel offers an outstanding combination of hardness, corrosion resistance, and sharpness. Of particular note is its ability to be hardened to 62 HRC without compromising the microstructure. This makes this steel an excellent choice for high-quality knife blades that must withstand both everyday use and demanding conditions.

🔪 Discover the Vitos kitchen knives

Experience the outstanding quality of 14C28N steel in our exclusive Vitos kitchen knife series.
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