Method of sharpening cutting edges

1. A method for polishing a cutting edge on a cutting instrument, comprising:

(i) providing a cutting instrument having a cutting edge,

(ii) contacting the cutting edge with a polishing pad and a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising:

(a) particles of an abrasive,

(b) an oxidizing agent, and

(c) a liquid carrier,

wherein the abrasive is suspended in the liquid carrier,

(iii) moving the polishing pad relative to the cutting edge with the chemical-mechanical polishing composition therebetween, and

(iv) abrading at least a portion of the cutting edge to polish the cutting edge.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive is selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, ceria, titania, zirconia, germania, diamond, polycarbonate, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, niobium carbide, chromium carbide, and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the abrasive is silica.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of bromates, bromites, chlorates, chlorites, ferric nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorites, iodates, monoperoxy sulfate, monoperoxy sulfite, monoperoxyphosphate, monoperoxyhypophosphate, monoperoxypyorphosphate, organo-halo-oxy compounds, periodates, permanganate, and peroxyacetic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge comprises a metal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the metal comprises an alloy of iron with at least one element selected from the group consist of carbon, chromium, nickel, and cobalt.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the metal comprises a bulk amorphous alloy.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge comprises diamond.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge comprises sapphire.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid carrier is water.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting instrument is a knife.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the knife is a surgical scalpel.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step (v) of coating the cutting edge with a protective and/or strengthening coating.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein

(a) the abrasive is selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, ceria, titania, zirconia, germania, diamond, polycarbonate, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, titanium nitride, niobium carbide, chromium carbide, and mixtures thereof,

(b) the liquid carrier is water, and

(c) the polishing composition comprises an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of bromates, bromites, chlorates, chlorites ferric nitrate, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorites, iodates, monoperoxy sulfate, monoperoxy sulfite, monoperoxyphosphate, monoperoxyhypophosphate monoperoxypyorphosphate, organo-halo-oxy compounds, periodates, permanganate, and peroxyacetic acid.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the abrasive is silica, and the oxidizing agent is hydrogen peroxide.

16. A cutting instrument comprising a cutting edge produced by the method of claim 1 .

17. The cutting instrument of claim 16 , wherein the cutting instrument is a surgical scalpel.

18. A cutting instrument comprising a cutting instrument body having two flat faces and a direction of elongation, and having at least one cutting edge extending parallel to the direction of elongation and defining an ultimate edge, wherein a maximum deviation from a line defined by two points on the ultimate edge of the cutting edge separated by 5000 μm of any point on the cutting edge between the two points is about 4 μm or less.

19. The cutting instrument of claim 18 , wherein the cutting instrument body comprises an alloy of iron with at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon, chromium, nickel, and cobalt.

20. A cutting instrument, comprising a cutting instrument body having two flat faces and a direction of elongation and defining an ultimate edge, and having at least one cutting edge extending parallel to the direction of elongation, wherein a maximum deviation from a line defined by two points on the ultimate edge of the cutting edge separated by 750 μm of any point on the cutting edge between the two points is about 1 μm or less.

21. The cutting instrument of claim 20 , wherein the cutting instrument body comprises an alloy of iron with at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon, chromium, nickel, and cobalt.