Material and Technology

Stainless Steel. The proven standard of surgery.

Robust, sterilizable, precise and the first choice for decades. Surgical steel of the highest grade for uncompromising precision instruments.

Manufactured to ISO 13485:201658 HRC hardness (4028)1.4021 & 1.4028 surgical steel100% Made in Germany

The Material

Why Stainless Steel in Surgery?

Surgical stainless steel is the most widely used material for surgical instruments worldwide. It offers an excellent combination of hardness, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness that makes it the gold standard in surgery.

MICROQORE MEDICAL exclusively uses stainless steel of the highest grade (material numbers 1.4021 and 1.4028). These alloys are distinguished by particularly high hardness and edge retention, indispensable properties for micro instruments that must deliver peak performance with every use.

Properties

What Makes Surgical Steel Special.

⚖

Extreme Hardness

Surgical steel 4028 achieves hardness values of up to 58 HRC. This guarantees long-lasting cutting ability and precise jaws over thousands of uses.

⚙

Corrosion Resistant

The high chromium content (min. 12%) forms a passive protective layer that shields the instrument from corrosion by blood, tissue, and sterilization agents.

⚒

Sterilizable

Stainless steel instruments can be safely steam sterilized at 134°C, thousands of times, without material degradation or loss of function.

❖

Dimensional Stability

Surgical steel retains its shape and spring force even after intensive use. The elastic properties guarantee consistent closing force and haptics.

✅

Proven and Reliable

The standard material in surgery for over 100 years. Surgeons worldwide trust in the proven properties and familiar handling.

💰

Cost-Effective

Stainless steel offers an excellent price-performance ratio. High-quality instruments at a fraction of the cost of specially coated variants.

Our Steel Grades

Not All Steel Is Created Equal.

MICROQORE MEDICAL uses two specific stainless steel alloys optimized for use in surgical instruments.

Property	1.4021 (X20Cr13)	1.4028 (X30Cr13)
Hardness	Up to 52 HRC	Up to 58 HRC
Chromium Content	12-14%	12-14%
Carbon Content	0.16-0.25%	0.26-0.35%
Application	Handles, housings, springs	Jaws, blades, tips
Characteristic	Higher elasticity	Superior edge retention
Corrosion Protection	Very good	Very good

Quality

What Matters in Stainless Steel.

Heat Treatment

The correct hardening and tempering temperature determines the quality of the instrument. MICROQORE MEDICAL uses precisely controlled vacuum hardening for optimal results.

Surface Finishing

Every instrument is ground, polished, and passivated in multiple stages. The mirror-smooth surface prevents adhesion and facilitates cleaning.

Raw Material Quality

Only certified surgical steel from European production is used. Every batch is traceable and documented with a material certificate.

Final Inspection

Every single instrument is manually inspected before delivery, for function, appearance, and dimensional accuracy.

Coatings

Stainless Steel Plus. Optional Enhancement.

Our stainless steel instruments can optionally be enhanced with various coatings to improve specific properties:

TC Coating (Tungsten Carbide): Tungsten carbide inserts in the jaws for maximum holding power. Recognizable by the golden grips.

SuperCut: Specially ground cutting edges for particularly soft, atraumatic cutting. Ideal for delicate tissue.

Titanium Coating: For those who want the best of both worlds. Learn more about titanium

MICROQORE stainless steel needle holder with scale