Razor Blade Material: Comparing 3Cr13, 4Cr13, and 6Cr13
Razor blades are available in various material compositions. The most prevalent material in the market is stainless steel. At Xirui Manufacturing, we source steel domestically in China and through imports from Germany and Sweden. Different steel alloys exhibit distinct properties.
Steels can be classified based on their carbon and chromium content as 3Cr13, 4Cr13 and 6Cr13 stainless grades. These austenitic compositions provide good corrosion resistance and strength, with the numeric designations denoting carbon and chromium levels.
Specifically, 3Cr13 contains 0.25-0.35% carbon and 12.5-14.5% chromium. 4Cr13 is 0.35-0.45% carbon and 12.5-14.5% chromium, while 6Cr13 comprises 0.55-0.65% carbon and 13.5-15.5% chromium. Higher carbon yields greater strength but reduced ductility and toughness, whereas chromium improves corrosion performance.
The table below compares key attributes:
| Property | 3Cr13 | 4Cr13 | 6Cr13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Content | 0.25-0.35% | 0.35-0.45% | 0.55-0.65% |
| Chromium Content | 12.5-14.5% | 12.5-14.5% | 13.5-15.5% |
| Strength | High | Medium | Low |
| Toughness | High | Medium | Low |
| Ductility | High | Medium | Low |
| Corrosion Resistance | Medium | High | High |
3Cr13 stainless is a low-carbon variety renowned for excellent strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance under salt fog testing. Blades fabricated from 3Cr13 exhibited no degradation even after 48 hours of exposure. Owing to this superior resistance, 3Cr13 is commonly specified for cutlery, scissors, and related applications.
4Cr13 also qualifies as a low-carbon composition, successfully completing standard 48-hour salt fog trials with conventional rust inhibitor. However, heat treatment impacts hardness versus 4Cr13’s intrinsic carbon level and microstructure. Under identical finishing including cleaning, chrome plating and PTFE coating, 4Cr13 blades surpass 12N sharpness at the 10th use point contrary to 6Cr13 performing below this threshold up to 30 cuts - a notable difference. 4Cr13 is typically applied to springs, bearings and molds.
A distinguishing trait of 6Cr13 involves ultrafine carbide precipitation following quenching, approximating high-carbon, high-chromium austenitic stainless steel hardness. Nevertheless, 6Cr13 is free of toxic metals like cadmium, mercury, silver, copper, gold, iron or lead. Notably absent is molybdenum which can irritate eyes and skin. Consequently, 6Cr13 finds widespread use demanding exceptional corrosion protection for razor blades, scissors, cutlery and surgical tools.
At Xirui, German-imported 6Cr13 dominates razor blade production for its stable composition and cost-efficiency. Blades retain 15N sharpness across 100 shaves but exhibit minor rusting versus salt fog. Alternative material Sandvik 13Cr6 performs comparably in sharpness while enhancing user comfort and durability to 14N over 100 uses.
 |  |  |
|---|
It’s not that one type of steel produced will necessarily make blades sharper, but high quality steel provides more consistent results, leading to more stable quality of razor blades during mass production.
Moreover, sharper blades are not always better - the material should be chosen according to the user’s hair characteristics and shaving habits to ultimately provide consumers with a safe and comfortable shaving experience. The most important thing is matching the razor to each individual’s unique needs, not solely focusing on sharpness. Quality steel allows for tailoring the razor experience based on personal preferences.
If you have any more questions about stainless steel or double-edged razor blades manufacturing, please contact us, Our expertise supports material selection to satisfy your unique needs.
