Why are ceramic knives better than normal

We tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of ceramic knives, how to choose a quality ceramic knife, and also try to determine whether or not all the same change to the steel knives ceramic.

What made ceramic knives

These ceramic knives are made of the same material, one technical process. They differ only in quality, and that a little bit.

All thanks to the zirconium oxide - that it is used in the manufacture of these tools. Many people she knew on ceramic and metal-ceramic dentures. Sometimes zirconium oxide even make the inner surfaces of the nozzle space rockets.

Ceramic knives can be black and white. Black made of zirconium carbide. White - oxide, or rather, zirconia (ZrO₂), Called by the Chinese, "the younger brother of the diamond."

The difference from zirconium ceramics other materials enormous heat resistance and toughness, which in several times higher than the hardness of any steel - at least one that you can meet in Everyday life. Moreover, zirconium oxide completely react with most acids, bases and other active substances.

How are ceramic knives

It created a blade long and difficult. The raw material powder as oxide or zirconium carbide (which still need to extract and purify; the course is more ore from Australia) under a pressure of 300 tons plate-compacted billet for manufacturing blades. Then the obtained sintered blades in molds at a temperature of 1600 ° C for two days.

As a result, large crystals are destroyed and the material acquires a fine-grained uniform structure. After the blade is pressed into the handle and the sharpening passes of a special technology with the use of superhard diamond abrasives.

Advantages and disadvantages of ceramic knives

Ceramic blades have a lot of merit.

• they are harder and, therefore, better to cut;
• stay sharp longer;
• they do not appear scratches appearance lasts longer;
• they do not rust;
• they are easy to wash - at the expense of uniform structure, they are smoother than metal knife;
• they are lighter;
• leaves no taste and environmentally friendly.

Disadvantages of such knives are as follows:

• sharpening requires special sharpeners;
• The factory default sharpening ceramic knives are usually inferior to that of the metal;
• they must be carefully cleaned in the dishwasher;
• do not suffer strokes - can not be cut in the ceramic, glass and stone countertops, cut solid foods (such as frozen meat or bone);
• do not tolerate stress fracture.

How not to make the wrong choice

Unfortunately, choose a quality ceramic knife is quite difficult. Here's what you should pay attention.

Colour

The knife should be transparent, uniform color. Transparency is only allowed in blade for fine grinding. The blade should not have a noticeable streaks and inclusions of other colors.

Texture

There should be no roughness. Smooth surface quality ceramics.

It is important that there are no scratches, chips, traces of blows: ceramics remembers the fall and even gentle treatment may one "perfect" time to split, if one has already been subjected to shocks.

Price

The ceramic knife can not be cheap. Unfortunately, as the black and white ceramics even in the form of raw material - quite expensive. This is due to zirconium and its production process minerals. Moreover, in addition to ceramics, this metal a lot of applications, so the market dictates his own.

Even the simplest of zirconium ceramic knife can not cost less than 20 dollars. Branded Japanese products and does reach 50-150 dollars apiece.

edge

Sales across metal knives disguised as a thick layer of ceramic enamel or the same ceramic. Tell them quite simply: they have poor-quality sharpening and thicker cutting edge. These should be avoided. Despite possible assurances sellers, they immediately lose their marketability, peel, they are more difficult to sharpen. And the steel they use mostly of poor quality.

Why it's worth to choose ceramic knife

Of course, ceramic knives - is primarily a trendy kitchen accessories. They are beautiful, they are advertised. A great practical benefit, as opposed to knives made of stainless steel, they do not bring. They are not required for the execution of some unique challenges - all this knife is a replica of the metal form.

However, ceramic knives to work a pleasure. The ease, convenience, ease of cleaning - everything is about them.

Therefore, if you are not afraid of challenges and are ready to use them correctly, it is worth a try. I've just will take a new set to replace the current that careless use spoiled for a couple of years.