Razor Blade Manufacturing Process
The process of making razor blades involves several stages, from sharpening pieces of flint to creating modern razor blades. The traditional type of razor blade is believed to give the closest shave.
Razor blades are made from a stainless steel strip, only 1/1000 of an inch thick. The strip is first punched into the shape of the blade, and then hardened and strengthened through a four-step heat treatment process.
The heat treatment process involves heating the blades to over 2000°F, then quenching them in cold water, and finally cooling them in a deep cooling chamber at -58°F. This process restructures the molecules, hardening the metal, but also making it brittle.
The blades are then ground and polished to create a sharp cutting edge. A printer applies the razor blade brand name, and the ink is instantly dried using gas flames.
Quality control is an essential part of the manufacturing process. Samples are pulled from the production line and checked for quality, including the grinding and geometrics of the cutting edges. Every single blade is examined for defects, and those that pass are washed, 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 baked onto the blade surface at 60°F for 20 minutes. Quality control technicians test the blades again to ensure they meet strength specifications.
Finally, the razor blades are submerged in organic oil for about half an hour to provide additional protection against corrosion. They are then wrapped individually in wax paper, which helps protect the blade against corrosion during storage.
Key Facts
- Razor blades are made from a stainless steel strip, 1/1000 of an inch thick.
- The heat treatment process involves heating, quenching, and cooling the blades.
- The blades are ground and polished to create a sharp cutting edge.
- Quality control is essential to ensure the blades meet strength specifications.
- The blades are coated with a chromium-based coating and a non-stick coating.
- Razor blades are wrapped individually in wax paper to protect against corrosion.
Grammatical Structures
- Passive voice (e.g., “The blades are made”, “The strip is punched”).
- Imperative mood (e.g., “Heat the blades”, “Quench them in cold water”).
- Complex sentences (e.g., “The heat treatment process involves heating the blades to over 2000°F, then quenching them in cold water, and finally cooling them in a deep cooling chamber at -58°F”).
- Relative clauses (e.g., “The blades, which are made from a stainless steel strip, are hardened and strengthened through a four-step heat treatment process”).
- Modal verbs (e.g., “The blades must be hardened and strengthened”, “The coating should be baked onto the blade surface”).
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 stainless steel strip, 1/1000 of an inch thick. |
| Heat Treatment | A process of heating and cooling materials to alter their properties. | The heat treatment process involves heating the blades to over 2000°F, then quenching them in cold water. |
| Quenching | The process of rapidly cooling a material by plunging it into a liquid or gas. | The blades are quenched in cold water to harden the metal. |
| Chromium-based Coating | A type of coating that provides 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 reduces friction and prevents sticking. | A non-stick coating is applied to help the blades glide smoothly over the skin. |
| Passive Voice | A grammatical structure in which the subject receives the action of the verb. | The sentence “The blades are made” is an example of passive voice. |
| Imperative Mood | A grammatical structure used to give commands or instructions. | The sentence “Heat the blades” is an example of imperative mood. |
| Complex Sentence | A sentence that contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. | The sentence “The heat treatment process involves heating the blades to over 2000°F, then quenching them in cold water, and finally cooling them in a deep cooling chamber at -58°F” is an example of a complex sentence. |
| Relative Clause | A clause that provides additional information about a noun in a sentence. | The sentence “The blades, which are made from a stainless steel strip, are hardened and strengthened through a four-step heat treatment process” contains a relative clause. |
| Modal Verb | A verb that expresses possibility, necessity, or obligation. | The sentence “The blades must be hardened and strengthened” contains a modal verb. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. What does the term ‘quenching’ refer to in the context of razor blade manufacturing?
A) Heating the blades to over 2000°F
B) Cooling the blades in a deep cooling chamber at -58°F
C) Submerging the blades in cold water after heating
D) Applying a non-stick coating to the blades
2. Which of the following coatings is applied to the razor blades to make the cutting edges harder and more wear-resistant?
A) Non-stick coating
B) Organic oil coating
C) Chromium-based coating
D) Wax paper coating
3. What is the purpose of wrapping the razor blades individually in wax paper?
A) To apply a non-stick coating
B) To provide additional protection against corrosion during storage
C) To dry the blades after the manufacturing process
D) To package the blades for distribution
4. What is the temperature at which the non-stick coating is baked onto the blade surface?
A) 2000°F
B) -58°F
C) 60°F
D) Room temperature
5. What is the primary function of the quality control stage in the manufacturing process of razor blades?
A) To apply coatings to the blades
B) To package the blades for distribution
C) To ensure the blades meet strength specifications and are free from defects
D) To heat treat the blades
Answer Key:
1. C
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. C
Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: Passive Voice
Grammar Quiz:
1. The new employee _______ by the manager to oversee the quality control process.
- is trained
- was trained
- has been trained
- train
2. By next year, the new factory _______ and will be operational.
- will be built
- is built
- has been built
- build
3. The quality of the razor blades _______ carefully before they are packaged.
- is checked
- check
- are checked
- have been checked
4. The stainless steel strip _______ into the shape of the blade before it is hardened.
- punches
- is punched
- was punched
- punched
5. The blades _______ with a chromium-based coating to make them more durable.
- are coated
- coated
- have been coated
- coat
Answer Key:
1. is trained
2. will be built
3. is checked
4. is punched
5. are coated
