The quality constant for mill knifes used to strip asphalt is significantly influenced by the quality of the reinforcement which, in its turn, is influenced by the thermic brazing process and by manufacturing the protection system at blockage through welding when it spins around its axis. It's also influenced by the quality of the intelligent wear and blocking self-protection systems that in their turn are influenced by oxidation and diffusion processes of W and C that make simmered carbides from the reinforcement and brazed joints. Overheating during welding and brazing of the knife reinforcement and/or blockage self-protection reinforcement favours the oxidation of the W carbides leading to a fast degradation of the affected zones, even in exploitation. Exceeding optimum temperature during brazing of the reinforcement in the low chromium alloyed steel support leads to Zn evaporation in certain areas from the brazing material and lowers the brazed joint resistance to wear this causes the knife reinforcement to detach from the support. Taking into consideration the above mentioned facts it is recommended that the production stages of the mill knifes are done mechanized and/or automatic constantly monitoring the execution parameters.

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