Method of producing amorphous cutting blades

Abstract

Metal alloys in an amorphous state are employed in the fabrication of cutting implements such as razor blades or knives. The implement may be formed from the amorphous metal or a coating of the amorphous metal may be applied. Such products may be formed from a ribbon of the amorphous metal alloy which has been prepared by quenching the molten metal or by coating the amorphous metal alloy on a suitable substrate such as by a sputtering procedure or vapor, chemical or electro-deposition of the alloy on the substrate.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a process of preparing a .[.metal.]. cutting implement .[.by shaping a metal strip into the desired implement form and sharpening a cutting edge on said implement.]., the improvement which comprises quenching a molten metal alloy under conditions producing .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.metal strip in at least 50 percent amorphous state, said metal alloy having the composition represented by M a  X b , where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Co, Cr and V, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, B, C, Si, Al, Sb, Sn, In, Ge and Be, a ranges from 65 atomic percent to 90 atomic percent and b ranges from 10 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent. 
     
     
       2. In a method of fabricating a .[.metal.]. cutting implement from a metal substrate by depositing a metal film on said substrate, the improvement which comprises employing a metal film which is at least 50 percent amorphous and has the composition represented by M a  X b , where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Co, Cr and V, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, B, C, Si, Al, Sb, Sn, In, Ge and Be, a ranges from 65 atomic percent to 90 atomic percent and b ranges from 10 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 in which up to about one-third of M is replaced with at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, manganese, titanium, tungsten and copper. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 in which up to about one-third of M is replaced with at least one element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, manganese, titanium, tungsten and copper. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 wherein the metal film is deposited on a sharpened metal substrate. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 2 wherein the metal substrate is sharpened after the metal film is deposited. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 2 for fabricating a metal cutting implement wherein the metal film is vacuum deposited onto the metal substrate to a thickness of about 50 to 300A. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 2 for fabricating a metal cutting implement wherein the metal film is electrodeposited onto the metal substrate. .Iadd. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein said metal strip is formed into a cutting implement. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The process of claim 9 wherein at least one edge of said cutting implement is sharpened. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. In a process of preparing a cutting implement, the improvement which comprises quenching a molten metal alloy under conditions producing a metal strip in at least 50 percent amorphous state, said metal alloy having the composition represented by M a  X b , where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Co, Cr, and V, up to about 1/3 of M being replaced by alloying elements normally used in steels, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, B, C, Si, Al, Sb, Sn, In, Ge and Be, "a" ranges from 65 atomic percent to 90 atomic percent and "b" ranges from 10 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. In a method of fabricating a cutting implement from a metal substrate by depositing a metal film on said substrate, the improvement which comprises employing a metal film which is at last 50 percent amorphous and has the composition represented by M a  X b , where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Co, Cr and V, up to about 1/3 of M being replaced by alloying elements normally used in steels, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, B, C, Si, Al, Sb, Sn, In, Ge and Be, a ranges from 65 atomic percent to 90 atomic percent and b ranges from 10 atomic percent to 35 atomic percent. .Iaddend.