Cutting tools — saw blade material choice: The blade of a power saw (for metal cutting) is commonly manufactured from which material to retain hardness at elevated cutting temperatures?

Introduction / Context:
Power saw blades for metal cutting operate at high tip speeds and experience frictional heating. The tool material must maintain hardness (red hardness) and resist wear at elevated temperatures. High-speed steels are the traditional choice for such blades and many other cutting tools.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Application: metal-cutting power saw blades (e.g., hacksaw, bandsaw).
• Service: intermittent or continuous cutting with localized heating.
• Requirement: hot hardness and toughness to withstand intermittent loads.

Concept / Approach:
High-speed steels (e.g., M and T series) retain significant hardness above 500°C due to strong carbide formers like W, Mo, V, and Cr. Stainless steels prioritize corrosion resistance, not hot hardness. Malleable cast iron and spring steels lack the necessary hot hardness and wear resistance for sustained cutting edges, while boron steels are typically used for wear-resistant structural parts (e.g., agricultural blades) rather than fine cutting edges at high temperatures.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify performance need: hot hardness and wear resistance under cutting heat.Match material class: HSS designed for cutting at high speed.Eliminate alternatives lacking red hardness or edge stability.Select “high speed steel”.

Verification / Alternative check:
Industrial catalogs list HSS or bimetal blades with HSS tooth edges for metal cutting, confirming widespread use.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Stainless focuses on corrosion; spring steels emphasize elasticity; cast iron is too brittle; boron steel applications differ from precision cutting edges.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming corrosion-resistant or springy materials make good cutting edges without considering high-temperature hardness.

Final Answer:
high speed steel