A novel cutting-edge structure and method and apparatus for manufacturing the cutting-edge structure is provided. The cutting-edge structure is comprised of naturally derived or renewable material at greater than 50% by volume fraction. In one embodiment, the naturally derived material is a cellulose nanostructure such as a cellulose nanocrystal. The cellulose nanocrystal is processed using a base or mold structure to provide a cutting edge of any shape such as linear or circular edge structures. The process includes dual cure steps to produce an optimal cutting-edge structure without shrinkage. The formed cutting-edge structure can be utilized as a razor blade as it is formed with very sharp tip and edge suitable for cutting hair. The base structure can form one or more cutting-edge structures simultaneously.

Non-metallic razor blades, such as those made with ceramic or glass, and more particularly to one or more unique features of such blades that improve the durability and useable life of the blade. The non-metallic blade may have a single-bevel design with a unique geometry. The blade may be made with a chemically strengthened glass. The blade may be made with single-crystal alpha-alumina in which the razor edge is oriented perpendicular to the c-axis. A razor assembly also is provided such as for use with non-metallic blades. The mounting head of the assembly is configured to restrict rotation of the blade about a pivot axis that is parallel to the blade edge. The mounting head also is configured to enable the blade to move axially in a direction perpendicular to the blade edge. The mounting head may orient the blades to enable passage of shaved hair.

A novel cutting-edge structure and method and apparatus for manufacturing the cutting-edge structure is provided. The cutting-edge structure is comprised of naturally derived or renewable material at greater than 50% by volume fraction. In one embodiment, the naturally derived material is a cellulose nanostructure such as a cellulose nanocrystal. The cellulose nanocrystal is processed using a base or mold structure to provide a cutting edge of any shape such as linear or circular edge structures. The process includes dual cure steps to produce an optimal cutting-edge structure without shrinkage. The formed cutting-edge structure can be utilized as a razor blade as it is formed with very sharp tip and edge suitable for cutting hair. The base structure can form one or more cutting-edge structures simultaneously.

A novel cutting-edge structure and method and apparatus for manufacturing the cutting-edge structure is provided. The cutting-edge structure is comprised of naturally derived or renewable material at greater than 50% by volume fraction. In one embodiment, the naturally derived material is a cellulose nanostructure such as a cellulose nanocrystal. The cellulose nanocrystal is processed using a base or mold structure to provide a cutting edge of any shape such as linear or circular edge structures. The process includes dual cure steps to produce an optimal cutting-edge structure without shrinkage. The formed cutting-edge structure can be utilized as a razor blade as it is formed with very sharp tip and edge suitable for cutting hair. The base structure can form one or more cutting-edge structures simultaneously.

A razor blade has a first and a second portion. The first portion has a cutting edge at an exterior end and is angled relative to the second portion by a bending process. A bent region that can be arcuate is intermediate the first and second portions. The razor blade is manufactured from martensitic stainless steel being mostly iron and having (by weight): 0.40 to 0.60% C; 0.30 to 0.55% Si; 0.70 to 0.90% Mn; 13.0 to 14.0% Cr; 0.50 to 1.0% Mo; and 0.03 to 0.2%, more preferably 0.03-0.1% N.

A razor blade has a first and a second portion. The first portion has a cutting edge at an exterior end and is angled relative to the second portion by a bending process. A bent region that can be arcuate is intermediate the first and second portions. The razor blade is manufactured from martensitic stainless steel being mostly iron and having (by weight): 0.40 to 0.60% C; 0.30 to 0.55% Si; 0.70 to 0.90% Mn; 13.0 to 14.0% Cr; 0.50 to 1.0% Mo; and 0.03 to 0.2%, more preferably 0.03-0.1% N.

A razor blade including a substrate with a cutting edge portion ending in a sharpened tip. The substrate having a thickness of between 1.55 and 1.97 micrometers measured at a distance of five micrometers from the tip, a thickness of between 4.6 and 6.34 micrometers measured at a distance of twenty micrometers from the tip, and a thickness of between 19.8 and 27.12 micrometers measured at a distance of one hundred micrometers from the tip.

A razor blade having a substrate with a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened tip is provided where the substrate is comprised of a molybdenum (Mo) content of about 1.6% to about 5% by weight of composition and thicknesses of 1.60-1.75 μm and 9.25-10.00 μm measured at a distance of 4 and 40 μm from the blade tip, respectively. This thickness ratio is between 0.165-0.185. The substrate thickness is about 2.70-3.00 μm at 8 μm from the blade tip, about 4.44-5.00 μm at 16 μm from the blade tip with a thickness ratio measured at 4 μm and 8 μm between 0.56-0.62, and a thickness ratio measured at 4 μm and 16 μm between 0.32-0.40. The edge shape may be defined by equation w=ad.sup.n with “a” between 0.50-0.62 and “n” between 0.76-0.80. A semi-included angle less than 7° is measured at a distance of 40 μm or greater from the blade tip. This substrate will have substantially no cracks.

A razor blade having a substrate with a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened tip is provided where the substrate is comprised of a molybdenum (Mo) content of about 1.6% to about 5% by weight of composition and thicknesses of 1.60-1.75 μm and 9.25-10.00 μm measured at a distance of 4 and 40 μm from the blade tip, respectively. This thickness ratio is between 0.165-0.185. The substrate thickness is about 2.70-3.00 μm at 8 μm from the blade tip, about 4.44-5.00 μm at 16 μm from the blade tip with a thickness ratio measured at 4 μm and 8 μm between 0.56-0.62, and a thickness ratio measured at 4 μm and 16 μm between 0.32-0.40. The edge shape may be defined by equation w=ad.sup.n with “a” between 0.50-0.62 and “n” between 0.76-0.80. A semi-included angle less than 7° is measured at a distance of 40 μm or greater from the blade tip. This substrate will have substantially no cracks.

Methods and apparatuses for an intelligent shaving system is disclosed herein. An example intelligent shaving system includes a handle, at least one blade connected to the handle, a microcontroller attached to the handle, a wireless communication unit configured to send and receive data from microcontroller to an external device, a memory configured to store data applicable to the at least one blade, and one or more sensors configured to send sensory data from the one or more sensors to microcontroller. The one of the one or more sensors is a proximity sensor or a camera having image sensor configured to capture video and/or still images. The shaving system assists in determining blade attrition and provides indicators to assist in shaving techniques. The shaving system further may include at least one blade slightly curved to follow a tangent of the skin. The at least one blade may have a nanolattice structure.