Oster is the first blade manufacturer to incorporate AgION antimicrobial into the surface of the CryogenX blades. AgION antimicrobial uses silver, a powerful metal ion, as the active ingredient to effectively control the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. This is important protection needed when clipping animals next to each other. The CryogenX treatment is a tempering process which deep freezes these high-carbon steel blades to -300 degrees Fahrenheit. Innovative "grooves" have been added to the comb portion to allow for more heat dispersion. The end result is that they not only start out sharp, they stay sharper longer, thus requiring less sharpening than conventional blades.