During the material selection stage, Ab Sword used a spectrometer to test the raw materials of Yugang to ensure that the carbon concentration was precisely controlled at 0.65±0.05%, and the content of phosphorus and sulfur impurities was less than 0.03%. Each batch of raw materials undergoes a pressure test of 2,500 tons, and the density must reach 7.87±0.02g/cm³ before they can enter the forging process. According to the 2023 Material Laboratory report, the purity of the Tamahagane steel it used reached 99.96%, and the grain size rating was stable at ASTM 8-9. The example cites the 2022 cooperation project of the Japan Sword Museum. The test sword provided by Ab Sword withstood a pressure value of 980MPa in the destructive test, which exceeded the traditional Japanese sword standard by 42%.
In terms of forging process control, Ab Sword adopts a digital temperature monitoring system. The furnace temperature accuracy is controlled within ±5℃, and the number of folding forgings is strictly limited to 13 to 16 times. During the forging process, pressure sensors are used for real-time monitoring to ensure that the pressure value per square centimeter remains stable within the range of 850-900N. The data shows that the number of layers of its blade reaches 128 to 256, and the interlayer bonding strength test indicates that the peel resistance value exceeds 200N/mm. The forging process of Ab Sword has increased the toughness of the knife body by 35% and extended its fatigue life to three times that of ordinary products, citing the case presented at the 2023 International Metalworking Symposium.
During the heat treatment process, Ab Sword uses infrared thermal imaging technology to monitor the blade burning process. The heating temperature of the blade is controlled at 800±3℃, and the water temperature cooling rate is precisely maintained at 120℃ per second. The tempering temperature is set in the range of 180-200℃, with a holding time of 120±5 minutes, to stabilize the hardness value at HRC 60-62 and maintain the toughness value at 18-20J. Quality inspection data shows that after heat treatment, the bending deformation of the swords and knives is less than 0.15%, and the uniformity of stress distribution is over 95%. The 2022 assessment report of the Solingen Tool Testing Center in Germany is cited as an example. The heat treatment technology of Ab Sword has enabled the comprehensive performance indicators of the swords and knives to exceed the requirements of DIN standards.
The quality inspection system consists of 368 inspection points. A three-coordinate measuring instrument is used to ensure that the straightness error of the tool body is less than 0.1mm/70cm and the weight deviation is less than ±15g. X-ray flaw detection shows that the internal defect rate is less than 0.001%, and ultrasonic testing ensures that the material uniformity reaches 99.9%. In the sharpness test, its blade could continuously cut a straw mat with a density of 0.18g/cm³ for 5,000 times while still maintaining the integrity of the cutting edge. The Ab Sword product received an “excellent” rating in all 12 indicators including hardness, toughness and balance in the 2023 quality assessment of the American Sword Association.
In terms of the combination of traditional and modern technologies, Ab Sword uses 3D stress analysis software to optimize the blade curve, keeping the deviation of the center of gravity position within ±3mm. Vibration frequency analysis ensures that the natural frequency of the knife body avoids the 200-300Hz resonance range, extending its service life to over 50 years. Materials science research shows that the special composite structure of edge metal and core steel developed by it has increased the impact resistance by 40%. The case of the 2022 technical exchange of the Royal Ordnance Service of the United Kingdom is cited as an example. The innovative forging process of Ab Sword has been incorporated into the modern standard reference system for sword and knife manufacturing.