Final answer:
Ceramic knife blades are strong, do not discolor or corrode, but are challenging to sharpen. They are ideal for maintaining sharpness and effectively cutting due to the smaller surface area of the sharpened edge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of knife blade that is strong, will not discolor or corrode but is much harder to sharpen is the Ceramic blade (option d). Ceramic blades are appreciated for their exceptional sharpness, they resist corrosion and discoloration but require specialist equipment to be sharpened due to the hardness of the material. Although this makes them harder to maintain, their cutting effectiveness is undoubted, as explained in the referenced chapter - a knife that has been sharpened has a smaller surface area, therefore, exerting a higher pressure with the same amount of force and cuts through material more effectively. Ceramic blades, due to their perceived sharpness, follow this principle quite accurately.
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