Is it just stainless steel with a fancy name?
Do they do something special with it? Does it have to have a medical degree and put in a surgical residency?
What?
More than you probably want to know:
http://bme.freeq.com/pierce/articles/surgste.html
WAG: they can put various trace metals like chromium and titanium in steel to make it stainless, hold an edge better, etc., so I would guess that surgical steel has something special that makes it REALLY stainless ('cause even so-called stainless steel will rust if you leave it wet), and capable of being sharpened to a razor’s edge and holding the edge a much longer time.
It’s also possible that there’s a special way of tempering the metal that makes it “surgical”. Have to hear from the Straight Dope resident metallurgist…
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen
It’s just another way of saying “stainless steel.” The distinction is important though. Surgical instruments must be made of a chemically inert material that will not combine with or react to the biochemistry of a patient in any way. Stainless steel is pretty much the only option here, as far as making things strong enough to cut flesh and bone. Rust is oxidation, when a metal combines with the oxygen in the air. Stainless steel does rust, but very, very slowly because it contains nickel. I mention this just to give an exampl;e of the non-reactability of stainless steel.
Actually, “Surgical Stainless Steel” implements are never meant to hold an edge.
If you exam the tools, surgical steel is used in clips, clamps, etc., but not cutting instruments.
Whenever an edge is needed, like a scalpel, the blade is made of a high-carbon, non-“surgical stainless steel” material. High carbon blades hold a sharp edge longer than a mother-in-law.
Edges like those found on scissors are usually a different alloy, or now made with a carbide insert to extend life. Surgical stainless is just to soft to hold an edge.
If you are looking for some boss tools, go to http://www.roboz.com They have good scientific laboratory cutlery, and I use their stuff when precision counts.
Strangely enough, there is a huge amount of crap being manufactured in Pakistan that you can find for low-grade medical tools. I do not know why Pakistan is big into making hemostats, etc., but all, not most, of the real crappy stuff I have seen the last few years has been marked “Pakistan.”
Does anyone know why?
WEG: Chromium is a local resource?
As for the surgical steel thing, get this. years ago, I purchase a REAL scrub shirt. It was a fund-raiser,and some kid’s dad was a Dr. They were basic green, and Tres Cool. The label said, “Contains 1% Stainless Steel”…WHATTHEFUCK??? Sorry, don’t mean to highjack, but it felt related…
If you want to kiss the sky, you’d better learn how to kneel.
And here I thought surgical steel had certain elements in it to allow it to show up better on X-rays after a failed forceps count… (ducking and running)