En-Garde! A Review of Fencing Blade Material Development

TY - JOUR

T1 - En-Garde! A Review of Fencing Blade Material Development

AU - Jiang, Haocheng

AU - Shen, Jingfang

AU - Yao, Xingyu

AU - Van Horne, Constance

AU - Lu, Xianhui

AU - Xiong, Yong

AU - Cha, Limei

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2022/2

Y1 - 2022/2

N2 - Using two fencing swords manufactured in Europe and China, we investigated the typical materials used for fencing blades and compared the experimental results with the nominal compositions of a variety of steels. We found that spring steels and maraging steels were the primary metals used in fencing blades. The review then provides an overview of the chemical compositions, heat treatment processes, microstructures and associated mechanical properties of these materials. By combining the requirements for the safety of athletes, mechanical behaviors of different steels, and production costs for industry, we introduced possible directions for the heat treatments and processing methods that have the potential to enhance performance and overcome the limitations of previous materials. In addition, an ultra-strong steel, Fe-9.95Mn-0.44C-1.87Al-0.67V which could be a promising new candidate in this area, was recommended. Finally, we suggested that successful cooperation between manufacturers and researchers is necessary to reach the various requirements of fencing blades to meet the growing popularity of fencing in China.

AB - Using two fencing swords manufactured in Europe and China, we investigated the typical materials used for fencing blades and compared the experimental results with the nominal compositions of a variety of steels. We found that spring steels and maraging steels were the primary metals used in fencing blades. The review then provides an overview of the chemical compositions, heat treatment processes, microstructures and associated mechanical properties of these materials. By combining the requirements for the safety of athletes, mechanical behaviors of different steels, and production costs for industry, we introduced possible directions for the heat treatments and processing methods that have the potential to enhance performance and overcome the limitations of previous materials. In addition, an ultra-strong steel, Fe-9.95Mn-0.44C-1.87Al-0.67V which could be a promising new candidate in this area, was recommended. Finally, we suggested that successful cooperation between manufacturers and researchers is necessary to reach the various requirements of fencing blades to meet the growing popularity of fencing in China.

KW - Fencing blades

KW - Maraging steels

KW - Spring steels

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123370195&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/met12020236

DO - 10.3390/met12020236

M3 - 文献综述

AN - SCOPUS:85123370195

SN - 2075-4701

VL - 12

JO - Metals

JF - Metals

IS - 2

M1 - 236

ER -