METHOD OF TREATING RAZOR BLADE CUTTING EDGES

The present invention relates to razor blade cutting edges and methods of producing edges exhibiting improved shave performance longevity and lower cutting forces. Conventional razor blades have increasing cutting forces with use due to the outer coating wear and adhesion loss. Blade edges produced according to the novel process exhibit significantly lower cutting forces when subjected to wool felt cutting shaving simulation, which correlates to more comfortable shaves initially and over the life of the blades. The present invention treats razor blade edges having a first adherent polyfluorocarbon coating with a first solvent to partially remove the polyfluorocarbon coating, adds a second polyfluorocarbon coating, heats, and treats the blade edge with a second solvent providing a final blade edge having a thin, uniform polyfluorocarbon coating. Preferred solvents include perfluoroalkanes, perfluorocycloalkanes, and perfluoroaromatic compounds having a critical temperature or boiling point above the dissolution temperature for the polyfluorocarbon in the solvent.