Grivory® / Griv-Ex™

Grivory is the trade name of this material produced by the Swiss company EMS-Chemie AG.

The material Grivory is widely used by the knife manufacturer Cold Steel under the name Griv-Ex.

Properties of Grivory Material

It is a semi-crystalline polyamide that processes and shapes well by injection molding. The plastic Grivory is very strong, and compared to Zytel resin, it is more durable. This material does not crack and has great dimensional stability = it does not deform, is water-resistant, and colorfast. It shows low absorption of water and atmospheric moisture. Even though it absorbs moisture, it has only a small impact on its quality and properties. Grivory also has good chemical resistance, typical for polyamides. Grivory products have a high-quality surface. It is produced in various variants, reinforced with glass or carbon fibers – the higher the fiber content, the greater the stiffness and strength of the resulting material. Grivory is also well-stabilized, resistant to UV radiation and high temperatures.

Grivory and Zytel are very similar materials. Some users say that Zytel feels more like plastic to the touch, whereas Grivory feels more "ceramic" in hand. Due to very similar properties, there is also the opinion that Grivory is Swiss and Zytel American, and there is no other difference between these materials. However, Grivory as a reinforcing material does not only use glass fibers, but also other elements, such as minerals or carbon.

Applications of Grivory Material

It is used, for example, in technical components, where its properties, especially its strength, make it a full replacement for metals. For the same reasons, this material is used in the production of knife blades (here it even replaces cutlery steels), their handles, and entire tools.