Toughness of steel is a measure of how much resistance a steel has to fracturing.
In more detail, toughness indicates a steel's ability to absorb energy and plastically deform before fracturing. Think of it as how well the steel resists cracks, chips, or breaking under stress. A tougher steel can withstand impacts and bending forces better than a less tough steel.
Here's a breakdown:
- What it measures: Resistance to fracture, chipping, and breaking.
- Importance: Critical for applications where the steel is subjected to impact, stress, or deformation.
- Example: A knife's toughness refers to its resistance to chipped edges or a broken blade (as per the provided reference). Edge retention, on the other hand, is related to how long a knife stays sharp during cutting. These are separate but important characteristics.
