US3838512A - Razor blades - Google Patents

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US3838512A
US3838512A US00241446A US24144672A US3838512A US 3838512 A US3838512 A US 3838512A US 00241446 A US00241446 A US 00241446A US 24144672 A US24144672 A US 24144672A US 3838512 A US3838512 A US 3838512A
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chromium
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M Sanderson
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Wilkinson Sword Ltd
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26BHAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B21/00Razors of the open or knife type; Safety razors or other shaving implements of the planing type; Hair-trimming devices involving a razor-blade; Equipment therefor
    • B26B21/54Razor-blades
    • B26B21/58Razor-blades characterised by the material
    • B26B21/60Razor-blades characterised by the material by the coating material
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/31504Composite [nonstructural laminate]
    • Y10T428/31678Of metal
    • Y10T428/31681Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]

Definitions

  • RAZOR BLADES This invention relates to razor blades and to methods for their production.
  • a razor blade having a discrete coating of nitride of an alloy of chromium (as herein defined) and if desired a discrete coating of an alloy of chromium (as herein defined) on and/or adjacenta cutting edge thereof.
  • a discrete coating means a coating of a material which is the same as or different from that of the basic blade and when of the same material as the basic blade, the coating is additional thereto.
  • the basic blade is preferably of steel.
  • the chromium alloys which may be used include those of chromium with at least one element of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, for example iron, cobalt, nickel or a noble metal, i.e., ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum, manganese, rhenium or two or more thereof. Some commercially available alloys may be used.
  • the alloy contains more than 12 percent by weight of chromium.
  • the chromium preferably constitutes more than 50 atomic percent of the alloy.
  • an alloy of chromium is meant to include alloys of chromium with one or more of the specific metals hereinbefore set forth for use in such alloys.
  • Small quantities of at least one further alloying element which may be either metallic or nonmetallic, may be present in the alloy in an amount which does not significantly adversely affect the shaving properties of the razor blades of the invention, for example not more than 5 atomic percent.
  • chromium alloys are those alloys which are commonly referred to as stainless and these are generally stainless steels or stainless irons.
  • Iron/chromium alloys which may be used should in general contain at least 12 percent by weight of chromium conveniently less than 30 percent by weight.
  • a preferred class of iron/chromium alloys contain from 16 to 20 percent by weight of chromium with the balance being made up, for example, of from 6 to 12 percent by weight of nickel with the remainder being a major proportion of iron and possibly low concentrations of further alloying elements.
  • One preferred alloy contains about 18 percent by weight of chromium and about 8 percent by weight of nickel with the balance iron and a low concentration of at least one further alloying element, for example carbon.
  • an iron/chromium alloy is used herein to refer generally to alloys containing both iron and chromium and it is intended to include alloys which contain one or more further alloying elements. In general, however, the iron and chromium should together form a major portion of the iron/chromium alloy (i.e. at least 50 percent preferably more than percent by weight).
  • the further alloying elements may be metallic or non-metallic.
  • Metallic alloying elements may be selected, for example, from amongst the elements (other' than iron) of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, e.g., cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum, or from amongst other metallic elements such as, for example, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten or manganese.
  • the relative amounts of iron, chromium and, when present, one or more further alloying elements are preferably selected to provide alloys which are referred to in the metallurgical art as stainless. These alloys include stainless irons and stainless steels.
  • the chromium should be present in an amount of at least 12 percent by weight in the iron/- chromium alloys.
  • a preferred class of iron/chromium alloys for use'in the present invention contains from 16 to 20 percent by weight of chromium. However, up to 30 percent by weight or even more chromium may be present.
  • the iron/chromium alloys used in the present invention should generally contain a major proportion of iron and chromium.
  • the other alloying elements, when present will then constitute less than 50 percent, preferably less than 30 percent by weight, of the alloy.
  • Carbon is preferably present in only small amounts, e.g., 0.1 percent by weight of the alloy, especially when the chromium content of the alloy is low (i.e. less than about 14 percent).
  • a preferred class of iron/chromium alloys contains from 16 to 20 percent by weight of chromium with the balance being made up, for example, of from 6 to 12 percent by weight of nickel with the remainder being a major proportion of iron and possibly low concentrations of further alloying elements.
  • One preferred alloy contains about 18 percent by weight of chromium and about 8 percent by weight of nickel with the balance iron and a low concentration of carbon.
  • iron/chromium alloys which may be used may be selected from the alloys listed in Table I below.
  • Aluminium l27r Chromium 0.10 max 1.0 max l.0 max 0.50 max ll.5/l4.0 (HO/0.30 0.l07 Carbon max. 0.08 max 0.08 max 0.80 max 0.50 max l2.0/l4.0 0.l0/0.30
  • Nitrogen Other alloys which may be used include, for example a chromium/nickel alloy containing about 80 percent by weight of nickel (commonly referred to as Nichrome) and a chromium/cobalt/nickel alloy containing about 20 percent by weight of chromium, about 40 percent by weight of cobalt, about 15 percent by weight of nickel, about 7 percent by weight of molybdenum, about 2 percent by weight of manganese and 65 about 0.15 percent by weight of carbon with the balance being iron (an alloy also known as Elgiloy). Chromium/platinum alloys may also be used.
  • the nitrided alloys of chromiii m may be? selected from the nitrides of the alloys of chromium hereinbe- 60 fore set forth.
  • the composition may extend from l to 55 atomic percent nitrogen.
  • the nitride of the alloy of chromium may form either a single coating on a blade, preferably having an outermost covering of a polymer of copolymer which improves the shaving characteristics of the blade, or it may be one of a plurality of coatings.
  • the alloy of chromium may be present as a first coating on a razor blade base and the nitride of the alloy of chromium may be present as a coating upon the first coatmg.
  • a chromium alloy is used as a first coat of a dual coated blade it is believed to act as an edge strengthening coating.
  • the second coating is generally chosen to provide a better substrate for adhesion of a subsequently applied polymer coating and/or to facilitate crystallisation of the polymer coating, upon deposition, in a manner which results in an improved polymer coating.
  • Two coatings other than a polymer or copolymer may be used and the outer of these two coatings is preferably a nitride of the alloy of chromium.
  • the other coatings which are preferably other than a nitride of an alloy of chromium are preferably metallic, being either of a substantially pure metal (e.g. chromium) or an alloy thereof, for example an iron/chromium alloy as hereinbefore described.
  • an alloy coating it is preferably the same alloy as that from which the nitride is derived.
  • the alloy may be an iron/- chromium alloy of the type hereinbefore described and the nitride coating is then preferably derived from the same alloy.
  • alloy and nitrided alloy coatings may be derived from chromium/platinum alloys.
  • the iron/chromium alloy coatings and the nitrided coatings may be produced by known methods. lonsputtering methods have been found convenient although vapour deposition methods may, if desired, be used.
  • a source of nitrogen is required to form the nitride and this may, for example be nitrogen alone or a gas containing nitrogen such as cracked ammonia or air.
  • the gas composition can vary widely depending upon the alloy being deposited.
  • the nitrogen or other nitrogencontaining gas may be diluted with an inert gas such as argon, for example with up to 95 volume percent of argon.
  • Sputtering may be directcurr ehtor radio frec uency sputtering and, in the latter case, sputtering may be direct from a chromium alloy or a nitride of a chromium alloy in an inert atmosphere as appropriate.
  • a pressure of from 0.1 to 10 microns of mercury may in general be used to effect sputtering.
  • the chromium alloy coating and/or the nitride coating together with any further coating, other than the possible polymer or copolymer coating, should generally have a total thickness of not more than 500A and preferably from 50 to 450A, advantageously not more than 300A. When a plurality of coatings is used, each coating is preferably from 50 to 450A thick.
  • An outer polymer coating may be applied to the blade having a nitrided chromium alloy coating by known methods.
  • Any of the conventional polymer coatings used to improve the properties of razor blades may be used, for example those comprising polytetrafluoroethylene or a copolymer of thiocarbonyl fluoride and tetrafiuoroethylene.
  • the blades according to the invention were generally preferred since they were found to give a more comfortable shave from the first shave.
  • a razor blade having at least one cutting edge carrying a discrete coating of a prereacted nitride of an alloy of chromium containing at least 12 percent by weight of chromium.
  • I nitride is a nitride of an iron/chromium alloy.
  • a razor blade having a cutting edge, a first coating of an alloy of chromium on said cutting edge and a second coating of a prereacted nitride alloy of chr0- mium containing at least 12 percent by weight of chromium on said coating of an alloy of chromium.
  • each discrete coating is from 50 to 450A thick.

Abstract

On a razor blade having at least one cutting edge there is provided a coating of a nitride of an alloy of chromium (as herein defined) and optionally a coating of an alloy of chromium (as herein defined). Preferably the outer coating is itself coated with a polymer which improves the shaving properties of the blade, for example polytetrafluoroethylene.

Description

Unlted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,838,512 Sanderson Oct. 1, 1974 1 RAZOR BLADES 2,087.051 7/1937 Stargardter 30/346.54
2,452,915 11/1948 Feild [75] Inventor: Mlchae Egham 3,283,117 11/1966 Holmes et a1 117/1051 England 73 Assignee: Wilkinson Sword Limited, London, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS England 1,193,067 5 1970 Great Britain 30/346.54 1,200,165 7/1970 Great Britain 30/346.54 [22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 241,446 Primary Examiner-Ralph S. Kendall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, [30] Foreign Application Priority Data volt & osann Apr. 13, 1971 Great Britain 10649/71 Jan. 29, 1972 Great Britain 4306/72 [57] ABSTRACT 152 US. Cl 30/346.54, 1 17/132 CF, 117/75, 011 a razor blade having 111199519119 cutting edge there 117 71 M is provided a coating of a nitride of an alloy of chro- 15 11 Int. (:1 B26b 21/54 mium herein defined) and Optionally a Coating of 58 Field of Search 117/132 CF, 71, 75 M; an alloy of chromium herein Preferably 143 1 5 3; 30 34 54 34 5 3 the outer coating is itself coated with a polymer which improves the shaving properties of the blade, for ex- 5 References Cited ample polytetrafluoroethylene.
UNITED STATES PATENTS 13 Claims N0 Drawings 1,930,388 10/1933 Hatfield 148/16.6
RAZOR BLADES This invention relates to razor blades and to methods for their production.
It is known to provide at least the cutting edge of a razor blade with a coating of certain materials in order to improve the shaving properties thereof, for example by increasing their resistance to wear. Materials which' have been proposed include certain metals and alloys for example chromium, or chromium/platinum alloys and certain refractory materials such as chromium nitride or chromium oxide.
According to the present invention there is provided a razor blade having a discrete coating of nitride of an alloy of chromium (as herein defined) and if desired a discrete coating of an alloy of chromium (as herein defined) on and/or adjacenta cutting edge thereof.
As used herein the term a discrete coating means a coating of a material which is the same as or different from that of the basic blade and when of the same material as the basic blade, the coating is additional thereto. The basic blade is preferably of steel.
The chromium alloys which may be used include those of chromium with at least one element of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, for example iron, cobalt, nickel or a noble metal, i.e., ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum, manganese, rhenium or two or more thereof. Some commercially available alloys may be used.
When iron, cobalt, nickel, or manganese are used in the nitrided chromium containing alloys, it is generally preferred that the alloy contains more than 12 percent by weight of chromium. In the case of the noble metals, also referred to as precious metals, and rhenium, the chromium preferably constitutes more than 50 atomic percent of the alloy.
As used herein, the term an alloy of chromium is meant to include alloys of chromium with one or more of the specific metals hereinbefore set forth for use in such alloys. Small quantities of at least one further alloying element, which may be either metallic or nonmetallic, may be present in the alloy in an amount which does not significantly adversely affect the shaving properties of the razor blades of the invention, for example not more than 5 atomic percent. One nonmetallic element which may be present, particularly in commercially available alloys, for example of iron, is carbon.
Particularly preferred chromium alloys are those alloys which are commonly referred to as stainless and these are generally stainless steels or stainless irons. Iron/chromium alloys which may be used should in general contain at least 12 percent by weight of chromium conveniently less than 30 percent by weight. A preferred class of iron/chromium alloys contain from 16 to 20 percent by weight of chromium with the balance being made up, for example, of from 6 to 12 percent by weight of nickel with the remainder being a major proportion of iron and possibly low concentrations of further alloying elements. One preferred alloy contains about 18 percent by weight of chromium and about 8 percent by weight of nickel with the balance iron and a low concentration of at least one further alloying element, for example carbon.
The term an iron/chromium alloy is used herein to refer generally to alloys containing both iron and chromium and it is intended to include alloys which contain one or more further alloying elements. In general, however, the iron and chromium should together form a major portion of the iron/chromium alloy (i.e. at least 50 percent preferably more than percent by weight). The further alloying elements may be metallic or non-metallic. Metallic alloying elements may be selected, for example, from amongst the elements (other' than iron) of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, e.g., cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum, or from amongst other metallic elements such as, for example, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten or manganese.
The relative amounts of iron, chromium and, when present, one or more further alloying elements are preferably selected to provide alloys which are referred to in the metallurgical art as stainless. These alloys include stainless irons and stainless steels.
In general the chromium should be present in an amount of at least 12 percent by weight in the iron/- chromium alloys. A preferred class of iron/chromium alloys for use'in the present invention contains from 16 to 20 percent by weight of chromium. However, up to 30 percent by weight or even more chromium may be present.
As stated above, the iron/chromium alloys used in the present invention should generally contain a major proportion of iron and chromium. The other alloying elements, when present will then constitute less than 50 percent, preferably less than 30 percent by weight, of the alloy. Carbon is preferably present in only small amounts, e.g., 0.1 percent by weight of the alloy, especially when the chromium content of the alloy is low (i.e. less than about 14 percent).
A preferred class of iron/chromium alloys contains from 16 to 20 percent by weight of chromium with the balance being made up, for example, of from 6 to 12 percent by weight of nickel with the remainder being a major proportion of iron and possibly low concentrations of further alloying elements. One preferred alloy contains about 18 percent by weight of chromium and about 8 percent by weight of nickel with the balance iron and a low concentration of carbon.
Examples of iron/chromium alloys which may be used may be selected from the alloys listed in Table I below.
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition, "/l Alloy Type Carbon Silicon Manganese Nickel Chromium Molybdenum Others 12% Chromium 0.10 max l.0 max l.0 max 0.50 max ll.5/l4.0 0.10% Carbon max. 0.08 max 0.80 max 1.00 max 0.50 max l2.0ll4.0
Aluminium l27r Chromium, 0.10 max 1.0 max l.0 max 0.50 max ll.5/l4.0 (HO/0.30 0.l07 Carbon max. 0.08 max 0.08 max 0.80 max 0.50 max l2.0/l4.0 0.l0/0.30
Aluminium Carbon max.
TABLE 1-Continued Chemical Composition. l1 A 'lypu Carbon Silicon Manganese Nickel Chromium Molybdenum Others 12% Chromium. 0.15 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 1.0 max /135 0.1571 Carbon max. 0.09/015 0.110 max 1.00 max 1.00 max l1.5/13.5
0.12/0.40 1.0 max 1.0 max 1.0 max l1.5/14.0 014/020 0.80 max 1.00 max 1.00 max 11.5/13.5 127: Chromium. 0.1271/0407: ().20/0.28 0.80 max 1.00 max 1.00 max /140 Carbon 028/036 0.80 max 1.00 max 1.00 max 12.0/
Sulphur Selenium 0.30 max 1.0 max 1.5 max 1.0 max 11.5/14.0 0.60 max S or Se 015/030 009/015 1.00 max 1.50 max 1.00 max 11.5/13.5 0.60 max (HS/0.30 127r Chromium Free Cutting 009/015 1.00 max 1.50 max 1.00 max 11.5/135 0.60 max 0.15/030 014/020 1.00 max 1.50 max 1.00 max 11.5/135 0.60 max 015/030 0.20/028 1.00 max 1.50 max 1.00 max 120/140 0.60 max 0.151030 0.12 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 14.0/18.0 17%Chromium 0.10 max 0.80 max 1.00 max 0.50 max 16.0/180 0.12 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 14.0/18.0 0.80/1.5 17% Chromium Molybdenum 0.10 max 0.80 max 1.00 max 0.50 max 16.0/180 090/130 0.15 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 180/230 207: Chromium 0.1 max 0.80 max 1.00 max 0.50 max 18.0/22.0
0.20 max 1.0 max 1.0 max 1.0/3.0 15.0/180 177r Chromium, 27: Nickel 0.121020 0.80 max 1.00 max 20013.00 15.0/18.0
- Sulphur 17'7r Chromium. 0.20 max 1.0 max 1.50 max 1.0/3.0 /180 0.60 max 0.15/0.30 2'71 Nickel Free Cutting 0.121020 1.00 max 1.50 max 200/300 15.0/180 0.60 max 015/030 1771/7'7! 0.15 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 6.0/8.0 16.0/180 Chromium- Nickcl 0.12 max 0.20/1.00 0.50/2.00 6.0/8.0 /180 1891/97! 0.15 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 8.0/11.0 17.0/200 Chromium- Nickel. 0.15% 0.12 max 0.201100 0.50/2.00 8.0/1 1.0 17.01191) Carbon max.
Sulphur Selenium 1871/92 0.15 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 8.0/11.0 /190 0.70 max S or Se 015/030 Chromium- (HS/0.30 Nickel 0.12 max 020/100 0.50/2.00 8.0/11.0 ITO/19.0 0.70 max Free Culling 0.12 max 0.20/100 GAO/2.00 8.001110 ITO/19.0 0.70 max 0.15/030 1871/1071 0.09 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 8.0/13.0 l7.5/20.0 Chromium- Nickel. 1 0.03 max 0.20/1.00 0.50/2.00 9.0/12.0 17.5/19.0 009% Carbon 0.06 max 020/100 0.50/2.00 8.0/11.0 ITS/19.0 max. 0.06 max 0.20/1.00 0.50/2.00 9.0/11.0 17.5/19.0
1871/12?! 0.10 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 10.0/13.0 17.0/ Chromium- Nickel, 0.10% 0.10 max (120/100 0.50/2.00 1l.0/13.0 [TO/19.0 Carbon max.
Titanium 1892/97: 0.12 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 80/110 170/191) SC min. Chromium- Nickel. 0.08 max 0.20/L00 0.50/2.00 9.01120 17.0/19.0 5C/0.70 Titanium. 0.12% 0.12 max 010/100 0.50/2.00 8.0/11.0 FLO/19.0 5C/0.90 Carbon max.
Sulphur 1891 /9'/( 0.12 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 8.0/1 1.0 ITO/19.0 0.70 max 5C min 0.15/0.30 Chromium- Nickc]. 0.12 max 0.20/1.00 1.00/2.00 8.0/1 1.0 FLU/19.0 0.70 max 5C/0.90 0.15/030 Titanium. Free Cutting Niobium 1871/97! 009 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 8.0/110 17.01190 10C min Chromium- Nickel 0.08 max 020/100 0.50/2.00 90/120 17.0/l9.0 MIC/1.00 Ni0bium.0.09/(
TABLE I Contmued Chemical Composition,
Alloy Type ilfbOll w 7 Silicon Manganese Nickel Chromium Molybdenum Others 1771/1071 0.08 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 90/120 16.5/185 1.25/ Chromium- Nickel. 1 /254 007 max 020/100 050/200 /110 16.5/185 1.25/1.75 Molybdenum 1771/1291 0.09 max 1.0 max 2.0 max /150 160/185 2.0/3.0 Chromium- Nickel. 0.03 max 020/100 050/200 /140 l6.5/18.5 2.25/300 2/7( Molybdenum 0.07 max 020/100 050/200 100/130 165/185 2.25/300 1871/1271 0.011 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 110/150 170/200 3.0/4.0 Chromium- Nickel. 0.06 max 0.20/1.00 050/200 /150 ITS/19.5 3.0/4.0 372:7: Molybdenum Titanium 1771/1271 0.08 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 110/140 165/185 2.25/30 4C min. Chromium- Nlckel. 0.08 max 020/100 050/200 110/140 165/185 225/300 4C/0.60 2 2% Molybdenum Titanium Niobium 177/1271 0.08 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 110/140 165/185 2.25/30 10C min. Chromium- Nickel. 0.08 max 020/100 0.50/200 11.0/ 16.5/l8.5 2.25/300 10C/l00 ZVzZ Molybdenum Niobium 2371/1571 0.15 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 130/160 220/250 Chromium- Nickcl 0.15 max 0.20/100 0.50/200 13.0/ 22.0/250 2471/1871 0.15 max 1.0 max 2.0 max 160/190 230/260 Chromium Nickel 015 max 020/100 050/200 160/190 230/260 237r/2071 0.15 max 1.0 max 20 max 190/230 220/260 Chromium- Nickel 0.15 max 020/100 050/200 190/220 230/260 Chromium 070/090 1.5/2.5 1.0 max 1.0/2.0 190/210 Silicon-XB 075/085 /225 030/075 l.20/1.70 /210 Tun sten 147z/147r 035/050 1.0/2.0 1.0 max 130/150 13.0/150 070 max 2.0 3.0 Chromium Nickel, 035/050 1.0/2.0 050/150 120/150 120/150 2.0/3.0 Tungsten Nitrogen Sulphur 217/47: 045/060 0.80 max 8.0/110 3.0/5.0 200/230 035/055 0.10 max Chromium- Nickelt 048/058 0.25 max 8.0/100 3.25/4.50 20.0/220 038/050 0.030 max Nitrogen 048/058 0.25 max 80/100 325/450 20.0/220 038/050 0030/0080 Niobium 2l7l/47( 045/060 0.80 max 8.0/110 3.0/5.0 20.0/230 2.0/3.0 035/055 0.10 max Chromium- Nickel. 048/058 0.45 max 80/100 325/450 20.0/220 2.0/3.0 038/050 0.030 max Nitrogen Niobium 048/058 0.45 max 80/100 325/450 200/220 2.0/3.0 038/050 0030/0080 2171/127: 0.10/0.30 1.50 max 2.0 max 100/130 200/230 0.10/0.35 0.10 max Chromium, Nickel. 0.15/0.25 075/125 1.50 max l0.5/l2.5 20.0/220 0.15/0.30 0.030 max Nitrogen Other alloys which may be used include, for example a chromium/nickel alloy containing about 80 percent by weight of nickel (commonly referred to as Nichrome) and a chromium/cobalt/nickel alloy containing about 20 percent by weight of chromium, about 40 percent by weight of cobalt, about 15 percent by weight of nickel, about 7 percent by weight of molybdenum, about 2 percent by weight of manganese and 65 about 0.15 percent by weight of carbon with the balance being iron (an alloy also known as Elgiloy). Chromium/platinum alloys may also be used.
The nitrided alloys of chromiii m may be? selected from the nitrides of the alloys of chromium hereinbe- 60 fore set forth.
between nitrogen and the alloy metals, e.g., Cr N, Cr N and CrN. For example the composition may extend from l to 55 atomic percent nitrogen.
The nitride of the alloy of chromium may form either a single coating on a blade, preferably having an outermost covering of a polymer of copolymer which improves the shaving characteristics of the blade, or it may be one of a plurality of coatings. For example, the alloy of chromium may be present as a first coating on a razor blade base and the nitride of the alloy of chromium may be present as a coating upon the first coatmg.
Where a chromium alloy is used as a first coat of a dual coated blade it is believed to act as an edge strengthening coating. The second coating is generally chosen to provide a better substrate for adhesion of a subsequently applied polymer coating and/or to facilitate crystallisation of the polymer coating, upon deposition, in a manner which results in an improved polymer coating.
Two coatings other than a polymer or copolymer may be used and the outer of these two coatings is preferably a nitride of the alloy of chromium. The other coatings which are preferably other than a nitride of an alloy of chromium are preferably metallic, being either of a substantially pure metal (e.g. chromium) or an alloy thereof, for example an iron/chromium alloy as hereinbefore described. When an alloy coating is used, it is preferably the same alloy as that from which the nitride is derived. For example, the alloy may be an iron/- chromium alloy of the type hereinbefore described and the nitride coating is then preferably derived from the same alloy. Similarly alloy and nitrided alloy coatings may be derived from chromium/platinum alloys.
The iron/chromium alloy coatings and the nitrided coatings may be produced by known methods. lonsputtering methods have been found convenient although vapour deposition methods may, if desired, be used.
In order to deposit a nitrided coating, a source of nitrogen is required to form the nitride and this may, for example be nitrogen alone or a gas containing nitrogen such as cracked ammonia or air. The gas composition can vary widely depending upon the alloy being deposited. For example, the nitrogen or other nitrogencontaining gas may be diluted with an inert gas such as argon, for example with up to 95 volume percent of argon.
' Sputtering may be directcurr ehtor radio frec uency sputtering and, in the latter case, sputtering may be direct from a chromium alloy or a nitride of a chromium alloy in an inert atmosphere as appropriate. A pressure of from 0.1 to 10 microns of mercury may in general be used to effect sputtering.
The chromium alloy coating and/or the nitride coating together with any further coating, other than the possible polymer or copolymer coating, should generally have a total thickness of not more than 500A and preferably from 50 to 450A, advantageously not more than 300A. When a plurality of coatings is used, each coating is preferably from 50 to 450A thick.
An outer polymer coating may be applied to the blade having a nitrided chromium alloy coating by known methods. Any of the conventional polymer coatings used to improve the properties of razor blades may be used, for example those comprising polytetrafluoroethylene or a copolymer of thiocarbonyl fluoride and tetrafiuoroethylene.
in comparative shaving tests in which razor blades according to the invention were compared with conventional razor blades, the blades according to the invention were generally preferred since they were found to give a more comfortable shave from the first shave.
We claim:
l. A razor blade having at least one cutting edge carrying a discrete coating of a prereacted nitride of an alloy of chromium containing at least 12 percent by weight of chromium.
2. A razor blade as claimed in claim 1, in which said I nitride is a nitride of an iron/chromium alloy.
5. A razor blade as claimed in claim 4, in which said nitride coating and said alloy coating are derived from the same alloy of chromium.
6. A razor blade as claimed in claim 4 in which both alloys of chromium are iron/chromium alloys.
7. A razor blade as claimed in claim 6, in which the iron/chromium alloy contains from l6 to 20% by weight of chromium.
8. A razor blade as claimed in claim 7, in which the iron/chromium alloy contains from 6 to 12 percent by weight of nickel.
9. A razor blade as claimed in claim 6, in which the alloy contains about 18 percent by weight of chromium and about 8 percent by weight of nickel with the balance being a major proportion of iron and, optionally, one or more further alloying elements.
10. A razor'blade as claimed in claim 6, in which the iron/chromium alloy contains less than 0.1 percent by weight of carbon.
11. A razor blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein a coating of a polymer which facilitates shaving with the blade is provided on said nitride coating.
12. A razor blade having a cutting edge, a first coating of an alloy of chromium on said cutting edge and a second coating of a prereacted nitride alloy of chr0- mium containing at least 12 percent by weight of chromium on said coating of an alloy of chromium.
13. A razor blade as claimed in claim 12, wherein each discrete coating is from 50 to 450A thick.

Claims (13)

1. A RAZOR BLADE HAVING AT LEAST ONE CUTTING EDGE CARRYING A DICRETE COATING OF A PREACTED NITRIDE OF AN ALLOY OF CHROMIUM CONTAINING AT LEAST 12 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF CHRMOIUM.
2. A razor blade as claimed in claim 1, in which said nitride is a nitride of an iron/chromium alloy.
3. A razor blade as claimed in claim 1, having at least one cutting edge carrying a plurality of coatings, the total thickness of the coatings bEing not more than 500A.
4. A razor blade as claimed in claim 1, having a coating of an alloy of chromium below said nitride coating.
5. A razor blade as claimed in claim 4, in which said nitride coating and said alloy coating are derived from the same alloy of chromium.
6. A razor blade as claimed in claim 4 in which both alloys of chromium are iron/chromium alloys.
7. A razor blade as claimed in claim 6, in which the iron/chromium alloy contains from 16 to 20% by weight of chromium.
8. A razor blade as claimed in claim 7, in which the iron/chromium alloy contains from 6 to 12 percent by weight of nickel.
9. A razor blade as claimed in claim 6, in which the alloy contains about 18 percent by weight of chromium and about 8 percent by weight of nickel with the balance being a major proportion of iron and, optionally, one or more further alloying elements.
10. A razor blade as claimed in claim 6, in which the iron/chromium alloy contains less than 0.1 percent by weight of carbon.
11. A razor blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein a coating of a polymer which facilitates shaving with the blade is provided on said nitride coating.
12. A razor blade having a cutting edge, a first coating of an alloy of chromium on said cutting edge and a second coating of a prereacted nitride alloy of chromium containing at least 12 percent by weight of chromium on said coating of an alloy of chromium.
13. A razor blade as claimed in claim 12, wherein each discrete coating is from 50 to 450A thick.
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WO1991018719A1 (en) * 1990-06-08 1991-12-12 The Gillette Company Razor blade technology
US5305526A (en) * 1992-02-14 1994-04-26 Wilkinson Sword Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Razor head, especially razor blade unit of a wet razor
US5497550A (en) * 1991-11-15 1996-03-12 The Gillette Company Shaving system
US6090490A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-07-18 Mascotech, Inc. Zirconium compound coating having a silicone layer thereon
US6096426A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-08-01 Mascotech, Inc. Coating having the appearance of black chrome
US6103381A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-08-15 Mascotech, Inc. Coating having the appearance of black chrome with a silicone top layer
US6110532A (en) * 1993-05-28 2000-08-29 The Gillette Company Method of coating cutting edges
US6168242B1 (en) 1997-08-01 2001-01-02 Mascotech, Inc. Zirconium nitride coating having a top layer thereon
US6242100B1 (en) 1997-08-01 2001-06-05 Mascotech Coatings, Inc. Chrome coating having a top layer thereon
US6277494B1 (en) 1999-03-05 2001-08-21 Mascotech, Inc. Chrome coated article
WO2001064406A3 (en) * 2000-02-29 2002-02-07 Gillette Co Razor blade technology
US6346327B1 (en) 1997-08-01 2002-02-12 Mascotech Coatings, Inc. Chrome coated article
US6391457B1 (en) 1999-12-23 2002-05-21 Vapor Technologies, Inc. Coated article
US6399219B1 (en) 1999-12-23 2002-06-04 Vapor Technologies, Inc. Article having a decorative and protective coating thereon
US6488027B1 (en) 1998-03-10 2002-12-03 Novartis Ag Powder inhaler
US20050089706A1 (en) * 2002-01-29 2005-04-28 Kazuya Urata Surface treated doctor blade
US20050246904A1 (en) * 2002-08-21 2005-11-10 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Cutting member having a superlattice coating
WO2006079360A1 (en) * 2005-01-27 2006-08-03 Bic Violex Sa Razor blade, razor head, razor and method of manufacturing a razor blade
US20060201001A1 (en) * 2003-07-15 2006-09-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Coated cutting member having a nitride hardened substrate
US20070124944A1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-06-07 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Razor blade and method of making it
US20080190758A1 (en) * 2004-09-08 2008-08-14 Vassilis Papachristos Method of Deposition of a Layer on a Razor Blade Edge and Razor Blade
US20090025512A1 (en) * 2007-07-25 2009-01-29 John Madeira Thin film coating of blades
WO2016057473A1 (en) 2014-10-06 2016-04-14 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc Method of shaping a surface coating on a razor blade
US9969094B2 (en) 2014-10-06 2018-05-15 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc Method of shaping a surface coating on a razor blade using centrifugal force
EP3639991A1 (en) 2018-10-19 2020-04-22 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC Razor blade and method of making it
WO2023028420A1 (en) 2021-08-24 2023-03-02 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc System and method for coating a blade
US11841836B2 (en) 2021-01-04 2023-12-12 Ownbackup Ltd. Target environment data seeding

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US2087051A (en) * 1933-12-21 1937-07-13 Gillette Safety Razor Co Fine edge blade and method of making the same
US2452915A (en) * 1947-06-27 1948-11-02 Armco Steel Corp Nitriding process
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GB1193067A (en) * 1966-08-02 1970-05-28 Wilkinson Sword Ltd Improvements in Razor Blades.
GB1200165A (en) * 1968-02-01 1970-07-29 Gen Electric Improvements in the hard surfacing of metal articles

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991018719A1 (en) * 1990-06-08 1991-12-12 The Gillette Company Razor blade technology
US5497550A (en) * 1991-11-15 1996-03-12 The Gillette Company Shaving system
US5305526A (en) * 1992-02-14 1994-04-26 Wilkinson Sword Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Razor head, especially razor blade unit of a wet razor
US6110532A (en) * 1993-05-28 2000-08-29 The Gillette Company Method of coating cutting edges
KR100324081B1 (en) * 1993-05-28 2002-05-13 도날 비. 토빈 Cutting part coating method
US6090490A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-07-18 Mascotech, Inc. Zirconium compound coating having a silicone layer thereon
US6103381A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-08-15 Mascotech, Inc. Coating having the appearance of black chrome with a silicone top layer
US6168242B1 (en) 1997-08-01 2001-01-02 Mascotech, Inc. Zirconium nitride coating having a top layer thereon
US6242100B1 (en) 1997-08-01 2001-06-05 Mascotech Coatings, Inc. Chrome coating having a top layer thereon
US6096426A (en) * 1997-08-01 2000-08-01 Mascotech, Inc. Coating having the appearance of black chrome
US6346327B1 (en) 1997-08-01 2002-02-12 Mascotech Coatings, Inc. Chrome coated article
US6488027B1 (en) 1998-03-10 2002-12-03 Novartis Ag Powder inhaler
US6277494B1 (en) 1999-03-05 2001-08-21 Mascotech, Inc. Chrome coated article
US6391457B1 (en) 1999-12-23 2002-05-21 Vapor Technologies, Inc. Coated article
US6399219B1 (en) 1999-12-23 2002-06-04 Vapor Technologies, Inc. Article having a decorative and protective coating thereon
US6866894B2 (en) 2000-02-29 2005-03-15 The Gillette Company Razor blade technology
US6684513B1 (en) 2000-02-29 2004-02-03 The Gillette Company Razor blade technology
WO2001064406A3 (en) * 2000-02-29 2002-02-07 Gillette Co Razor blade technology
US20030121158A1 (en) * 2000-02-29 2003-07-03 The Gillette Company, A Delaware Corporation Razor blade technology
US20050089706A1 (en) * 2002-01-29 2005-04-28 Kazuya Urata Surface treated doctor blade
US7152526B2 (en) * 2002-01-29 2006-12-26 Nihon New Chrome Co., Ltd. Surface treated doctor blade
US20050246904A1 (en) * 2002-08-21 2005-11-10 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Cutting member having a superlattice coating
US20060201001A1 (en) * 2003-07-15 2006-09-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Coated cutting member having a nitride hardened substrate
US9180599B2 (en) 2004-09-08 2015-11-10 Bic-Violex S.A. Method of deposition of a layer on a razor blade edge and razor blade
US20080190758A1 (en) * 2004-09-08 2008-08-14 Vassilis Papachristos Method of Deposition of a Layer on a Razor Blade Edge and Razor Blade
WO2006079360A1 (en) * 2005-01-27 2006-08-03 Bic Violex Sa Razor blade, razor head, razor and method of manufacturing a razor blade
US20070124944A1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-06-07 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Razor blade and method of making it
US20090025512A1 (en) * 2007-07-25 2009-01-29 John Madeira Thin film coating of blades
US20110209988A1 (en) * 2007-07-25 2011-09-01 John Madeira Thin film coating of blades
US7966909B2 (en) 2007-07-25 2011-06-28 The Gillette Company Process of forming a razor blade
WO2016057473A1 (en) 2014-10-06 2016-04-14 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc Method of shaping a surface coating on a razor blade
US9943879B2 (en) 2014-10-06 2018-04-17 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc Method of shaping a surface coating on a razor blade
US9969094B2 (en) 2014-10-06 2018-05-15 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc Method of shaping a surface coating on a razor blade using centrifugal force
EP3639991A1 (en) 2018-10-19 2020-04-22 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, LLC Razor blade and method of making it
WO2020081763A1 (en) 2018-10-19 2020-04-23 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc Razor blade and method of making it
US11841836B2 (en) 2021-01-04 2023-12-12 Ownbackup Ltd. Target environment data seeding
WO2023028420A1 (en) 2021-08-24 2023-03-02 Edgewell Personal Care Brands, Llc System and method for coating a blade

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CH553039A (en) 1974-08-30
DD95336A5 (en) 1973-01-20
GB1352241A (en) 1974-05-08
AU4082172A (en) 1973-10-11
PL83573B1 (en) 1975-12-31
CA951600A (en) 1974-07-23
BG20303A3 (en) 1975-11-05
IT953363B (en) 1973-08-10
AU473368B2 (en) 1976-06-17
IL39203A (en) 1975-04-25
SE373776B (en) 1975-02-17
IE36250B1 (en) 1976-09-15
BE781399A (en) 1972-09-29
LU65093A1 (en) 1972-07-11
TR17374A (en) 1975-03-24
DE2216030A1 (en) 1972-10-26
AR201729A1 (en) 1975-04-15
RO62302A (en) 1980-01-15
FR2136174A5 (en) 1972-12-22
IL39203A0 (en) 1972-06-28

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