The Manufacturing Process of Razor Blades
Razor blades have come a long way since cavemen used sharpened flint to shave their facial hair. Today, modern man can simply purchase a pack of razor blades for his shaver. Despite the existence of several styles of shavers and blades, many men believe that traditional razor blades provide the closest shave.
Razor blades are made from a stainless steel strip that is only 1/1000 of an inch thick. The manufacturing process begins with a punching machine that stamps out the overall blade shape, resulting in dull-edged blades called “blanks.” These blanks are then hardened and strengthened through a four-step heat treatment process.
- Step one: The blanks are heated in a furnace to just over 2000°F for about 30 seconds.
- Step two: The blanks are briefly submerged in cold water, a process called quenching.
- Step three: The blanks are shown in a deep cooling chamber at a temperature of -58°F for about 20 seconds.
- Step four: The now-hard blanks are reheated to restructure the molecules and harden the metal.
After the heat treatment process, the blanks are printed with the razor blade brand name using a printer that applies ink, which is instantly dried by gas flames. The blanks then enter a grinding and polishing machine, where they are sharpened and polished to produce two super-sharp cutting edges.
The blades are then separated and undergo quality control checks, where they are examined for defects and checked for the quality of the grinding and geometrics of the cutting edges. Every single blade produced is inspected for cutting edge defects, and those that pass are washed with solvent, dried, and coated with a chromium-based coating to make the cutting edges harder and more wear-resistant.
A non-stick coating is also applied to help the blades glide smoothly over the skin. The coating is adhered to the blade surface by baking it on for 20 minutes at about 60°F. Quality control technicians test samples again to ensure the blades meet strength specifications.
Finally, the razor blades are submerged in organic oil for about half an hour to provide additional protection against corrosion. On the packaging line, each blade is individually wrapped in wax paper, which helps protect the razor blade against corrosion during storage and prevents the razor-sharp edges from cutting through the paper.
It’s worth noting that the edge of these razor blades is about 10 times thinner than a human hair, and a blade typically lasts about six shaves. Considering that the average male spends over 33,100 hours shaving his face in his lifetime, it’s no wonder that razor blade manufacturing is a significant industry.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | A type of steel alloy that is resistant to corrosion and rust. | Razor blades are made from a thin strip of stainless steel. |
| Punching Machine | A device used to cut out shapes from metal or other materials. | The punching machine stamps out the overall blade shape from the stainless steel strip. |
| Heat Treatment | A process used to alter the physical properties of a material by heating or cooling it. | The blanks undergo a four-step heat treatment process to harden and strengthen them. |
| Quenching | A process of rapidly cooling a material by submerging it in a liquid or gas. | The blanks are briefly submerged in cold water, a process called quenching, to cool them down. |
| Grinding and Polishing | A process used to smooth and sharpen the surface of a material. | The blanks are sharpened and polished to produce two super-sharp cutting edges through a grinding and polishing machine. |
| Quality Control | A process used to ensure that products meet certain standards or specifications. | The blades undergo quality control checks to ensure they meet strength specifications and are free from defects. |
| Chromium-Based Coating | A type of coating that contains chromium, used to provide corrosion resistance and hardness. | The blades are coated with a chromium-based coating to make the cutting edges harder and more wear-resistant. |
| Non-Stick Coating | A type of coating that prevents materials from sticking to each other. | A non-stick coating is applied to the blades to help them glide smoothly over the skin. |
| Corrosion Resistance | The ability of a material to resist corrosion or degradation caused by chemical reactions. | The blades are coated with a chromium-based coating to provide corrosion resistance. |
| Geometrics | The study of the shapes and sizes of objects. | The quality control technicians check the geometrics of the cutting edges to ensure they meet specifications. |
| Solvent | A substance used to dissolve or clean other materials. | The blades are washed with solvent to clean them before coating. |
| Organic Oil | A type of oil that is derived from living organisms. | The blades are submerged in organic oil to provide additional protection against corrosion. |
How It’s Made: Razor Blades 🎓
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Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Passive Voice in Technical Descriptions
The passive voice is often used in technical descriptions to focus on the process or action rather than the person performing the action. In the context of the razor blade manufacturing process, the passive voice is used to describe the various stages of production, such as the blanks are heated, the blanks are hardened, and the blades are sharpened. This grammatical structure helps to emphasize the steps involved in the manufacturing process and makes the text more concise and formal.
