Both 14C28N and D2 are premium tool steel grades selected for tooling applications, particularly in knife making and industrial manufacturing, where exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and compressive strength are required. Each offers unique properties that cater to different needs and applications. In this blog, we break down the composition, hardness, properties, and typical uses of these steels to help you determine which is best suited for your specific requirements.
What is 14C28N Steel?
14C28N steel is a martensitic stainless steel produced by the Swedish company Sandvik (now Alleima), initially developed as an improved version of 13C26 steel. This steel features an optimized chemical composition that makes it excellent for knife-making, especially in applications requiring high hardness, good corrosion resistance, and excellent edge retention.
14C28N Steel Chemical Composition
C: Typically between 0.55% to 0.65%, carbon content affects the hardness and cutting performance of stainless steel.
Cr: Typically between 13.5% to 14.5%, chromium is the main alloying element in stainless steel, imparting corrosion resistance.
N: Typically between 0.6% to 0.11%, nitrogen enhances the hardness and corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
Si: Typically between 0.4% to 0.9%, silicon influences the strength and corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
Mn: Typically between 0.4% to 0.6%, manganese improves the hardness and corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
P and S: Usually present in low amounts to ensure the purity of the stainless steel.
14C28N Steel Hardness
General hardness: 55-62 HRC
Post-heat treatment hardness: HRC 58-61
Under high hardness conditions: Can reach 62-63 HRC
14C28N Steel Properties
| Property | Value |
| Density | 7.7 g/cm³ |
| Yield strength | ≥ 200 MPa |
| Tensile strength | 500-700 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 12% |
| Hardness | 54-57 HRC |
| Corrosion resistance | Excellent |
| Wear resistance | Good |
| Edge retention | Excellent |
| Toughness | Good |
How Good is 14C28N Steel?
Here are the main advantages of 14C28N steel:
High Hardness: Due to the high levels of carbon and chromium in 14C28N steel, it achieves a high hardness. Proper heat treatment can bring its hardness to 58-62 HRC, enhancing the wear resistance and cutting performance of tools.
Good Corrosion Resistance: The chromium in 14C28N steel forms a dense oxide layer, effectively preventing oxygen and moisture from corroding the steel, thus enhancing its corrosion resistance. The presence of nitrogen also boosts the steel’s corrosion resistance, making it more suitable for harsh environments.
Excellent Cutting Performance: The presence of an adequate amount of molybdenum in 14C28N steel improves its cutting performance, allowing tools to be sharper and require less cutting force, thereby increasing work efficiency.
Ease of Machinability: 14C28N steel has good machinability, allowing for various cutting, grinding, and polishing processes to produce precision tools.
High Strength and Toughness: The composition of 14C28N steel provides high strength and toughness, ensuring that tools are less likely to break or deform during use, enhancing their lifespan and safety.
Is 14C28N Steel Good for Knives?
Sandvik 14C28N is suitable for knife applications that require extremely high sharpness, blade stability, and corrosion resistance, such as chef knives, small folding knives, hunting knives, and fish knives. The blades made from this steel are easy to sharpen, stable, and less likely to chip, break, or roll. It is a choice for both everyday tools and professional cutting instruments, providing a better user experience.
What is 14C28N Steel Used For?
Due to its outstanding performance, 14C28N steel is widely used in:
Knife making: 14C28N steel is extensively used to make various types of knives, such as chef knives, small folding knives, hunting knives, and fish knives. Its high hardness and good cutting performance make it excel in these applications.
Kitchenware manufacturing: Due to its excellent hardness and corrosion resistance, 14C28N steel is also commonly used in manufacturing kitchen utensils, including budget folding knives and EDC (Everyday Carry) knives.
Medical instruments: This steel is also applied in manufacturing medical instruments that require high strength and wear resistance, as its superior performance can be utilized in special environments for long-term use.
Industrial field: 14C28N steel is also used in manufacturing industrial blades, mechanical cutting tools, and molds, favored for its high performance.
What is D2 Steel?
D2 steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel known for its high wear and abrasion resistance properties. It is often referred to as a “semi-stainless” steel because it contains a significant amount of chromium, typically around 11% to 12%, which provides some corrosion resistance, though not as much as true stainless steels.
D2 Steel Chemical Composition
Carbon (C): 1.40 – 1.6
Silicon (Si): ≤0.60
Manganese (Mn): ≤0.60
Sulfur (S): ≤0.030
Phosphorus (P): ≤0.030
Chromium (Cr): 11.50 – 13.00
Nickel (Ni): Residual content allowed ≤0.25
Copper (Cu): Residual content allowed ≤0.30
Vanadium (V): ≤1.00
Molybdenum (Mo): 0.70 – 1.20
D2 Steel Hardness
General hardness range: 57-62 HRC
Post-heat treatment hardness: Can reach 60+ HRC. The steel can be machined in an annealed state with hardness reaching 55-62 HRC.
D2 Steel Properties
| Property | Value |
| Density | 7.70 g/cm³ |
| Yield strength | 190-230 MPa |
| Tensile strength | 550-750 MPa |
| Elongation | 8-10% |
| Reduction of area | 30-45% |
| Hardness | 58-62 HRC |
| Impact toughness | 18-23 Joules |
| Corrosion resistance | Moderate |
| Wear resistance | Very high |
| Machinability | Difficult |
| Heat treatability | Excellent |
How Good is D2 Steel?
D2 steel has several advantages that make it perform exceptionally well in various applications. Here are detailed descriptions of its main benefits:
High Hardness and Wear Resistance: After heat treatment, D2 steel can reach a hardness of 55-62 HRC, which provides it with strong wear resistance and abrasion resistance. This characteristic makes D2 steel very suitable for tools and molds that need to maintain sharpness and durability over time.
Good Toughness in Combination with Hardness: Despite its high hardness, the carbon and chromium content in D2 steel also ensures good toughness. This good combination of hardness and toughness makes it less likely to crack under impact.
Excellent Machinability: D2 steel can be machined in an annealed state, and it maintains good dimensional stability after quenching and tempering, meaning it can maintain precise dimensions and shapes during manufacturing.
Corrosion Resistance: Although D2 steel is not completely stainless, its high chromium content provides moderate corrosion resistance in hardened conditions, which somewhat broadens its range of applications.
Versatility: Due to its unique combination of properties, D2 steel is widely used in industrial cutting tools, cold work tools, metalworking tools, and plastic molding and extrusion dies.
Long-term Use and Easy Maintenance: The hardness and wear resistance of D2 steel ensure a long service life, and because of its good cutting performance, it is not prone to wear or damage even after prolonged use.
What is D2 Steel Used For?
The main applications and specific uses of D2 steel are as follows:
Steel Industry: D2 steel is widely used in the production of various steels, such as cold-rolled sheets, hot-rolled sheets, and seamless steel pipes.
Die Manufacturing: Cold work dies – D2 steel is commonly used to manufacture stamping dies, cooling tools, hot pressing tools; high-strength, high wear-resistant cold work molds – such as silicon steel sheet punching dies, cold shear blades, trimming molds; complex tools that may deform – suitable for manufacturing various high wear-resistant, long-life cold stamping molds and cold shearing blades.
Cutting Tools: Due to its excellent hardness and wear resistance, D2 steel is widely used in manufacturing cutting and shearing tools, such as industrial knives (including cutting and shearing knives), slitting knives, and guillotine blades.
Hardware Parts Manufacturing: D2 steel is also used to make hardware parts, such as drawing dies, stainless steel sheet punching dies, high-hardness punching molds, thread rolling dies.
Machinery Manufacturing: In machinery manufacturing, D2 steel can be used to make some special industrial components.
Other Applications: Cold extrusion forming, stretching films, punching stainless steel sheets, and high hardness material shearing molds; manufacturing parts like automotive engine cylinder heads.
Is D2 Steel Good for Knives?
Due to its excellent wear resistance, hardness, and toughness, D2 steel is very suitable for knife making, especially in applications where high wear resistance and long life are particularly prominent.
14c28N vs D2 Steel: What are the Differences Between Them?
When comparing 14C28N and D2 steels, we are looking at two materials that are popular in knife making, each with its own unique set of properties and uses. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the differences between these two types of steel:
1. Chemical Composition
14C28N: This is a stainless steel made by Sandvik, a Swedish company. It has a higher chromium content which makes it excellent in terms of corrosion resistance. The typical composition includes Carbon (0.62%), Chromium (14%), Silicon (0.2%), Manganese (0.6%), and Nitrogen (0.11%).
D2: This is a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel known for its hardness and wear resistance. It typically contains Carbon (1.5-1.6%), Chromium (11.5-12%), Molybdenum (0.7-1.2%), Vanadium (0.8-1.1%), and only trace amounts of other elements like Silicon and Manganese.
2. Hardness and Toughness
14C28N: Offers a good balance between hardness and toughness, typically hardened to about 55-62 HRC. It is less prone to chipping than harder steels.
D2: Known for its high hardness, D2 can reach up to 62 HRC. However, its high hardness makes it less tough, making it more susceptible to chipping under heavy use.
3. Corrosion Resistance
14C28N: Excellent corrosion resistance due to its high chromium content. It can withstand exposure to moisture better than many other steels without rusting.
D2: While it has enough chromium to offer some corrosion resistance, it is not technically a stainless steel (it has slightly less than the 13% chromium typically required to qualify as stainless steel). Therefore, it can rust if not properly maintained.
4. Edge Retention
14C28N: Provides very good edge retention, though not as high as some of the more premium steels. It is, however, very easy to sharpen.
D2: Excellent edge retention due to its hardness and high wear resistance, outperforming many other steels in this regard.
5. Sharpening Difficulty
14C28N: Easier to sharpen compared to harder steels like D2. This makes it a good choice for those who prefer to maintain their knives themselves without specialized equipment.
D2: More difficult to sharpen due to its hardness. Sharpening D2 steel often requires more time and a more abrasive material, such as diamond or ceramic stones.
6. Typical Applications
14C28N: Commonly used in high-end kitchen knives, pocket knives, and other applications where corrosion resistance and hygiene are important.
D2: Frequently used for industrial tools, larger knives, and cutting tools that require high wear resistance. It is less commonly used for kitchen knives due to its lower corrosion resistance.
7. Cost
14C28N: Generally, 14C28N is moderately priced, making it accessible for both everyday and high-end knives.
D2: The cost of D2 can vary, but it is typically considered a mid-range steel in terms of price. It is often used in applications where its durability can justify the cost over cheaper, less durable steels.
14c28N vs D2 Steel: Which is Better For Knives?
The choice between 14C28N and D2 steel for a knife depends ultimately on the intended use of the knife and personal preferences:
Choose 14C28N if you need a knife that balances corrosion resistance, ease of sharpening, and good edge retention, especially if you are in a humid or marine environment.
Choose D2 if edge retention and hardness are your paramount concerns, particularly for tasks involving heavy cutting where frequent sharpening isn’t feasible.