Description
CPM S45-VN - Stainless Blade Steel Flat Bars - 2 Week Pre Order
This steel is manufactured in the USA by Crucible Industries and is supplied hot rolled and annealed. It features a textured surface from the hot rolling process and is soft in its annealed state, making it easy to cut, grind, drill, and file. Thickness may vary slightly from batch to batch.
CPM S45VN is an evolution of CPM S35VN, introduced in 2019 to offer an enhanced balance of properties for knife makers. Developed through Crucible’s particle metallurgy process, it boasts a refined carbide structure, which leads to excellent toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. The inclusion of 0.5% niobium in combination with an increased amount of chromium compared to CPM S35VN improves both wear and corrosion resistance, while also making the steel relatively easy to sharpen for its class.
The alloy composition has been optimized to provide improved performance over CPM S35VN, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of knife applications, from EDC to outdoor and tactical blades.
Composition
- Carbon – 1.48%
- Molybdenum – 2.00%
- Manganese – 0.50%
- Silicon – 0.50%
- Chromium – 16.00%
- Vanadium – 3.00%
- Niobium – 0.50%
- Nitrogen – 0.15%
- Iron – Balance
Performance Characteristics
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Toughness 6/10 – CPM S45VN offers similar toughness to CPM S35VN, making it suitable for a range of blade sizes, from small EDC knives to larger outdoor tools. It’s tough enough for most knife applications, though not as tough as some carbon steels.
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Edge retention 7/10 – With its increased carbon and chromium content compared to S35VN, CPM S45VN delivers even better edge retention. It outperforms CPM S35VN in wear resistance, holding an edge longer while still being easier to sharpen than ultra-hard steels like M390 or CPM 20CV.
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Corrosion resistance 9/10 – CPM S45VN boasts excellent corrosion resistance, higher than both CPM S35VN and CPM 154, due to its increased chromium content. It excels in humid or corrosive environments, making it ideal for outdoor, tactical, or kitchen knives where exposure to moisture is common.
Recommended Heat Treatment
- Coat blade in an anti-scale compound or seal in double crimped 321 or 309-grade stainless steel tool wrap
- Austenitise – Heat to 1065-1080°C and hold for 20-30 minutes
- Quench between aluminum plates or oil quench
- Cryogenic Treatment – Immerse in liquid nitrogen or dry ice slurry for 1 hour or more to convert retained austenite to martensite and increase hardness
- Temper at 150-230°C for 2 hours, twice, depending on the desired hardness
Note: For best results, cryogenic treatment is recommended after quenching. Without cryogenic treatment, lower austenitising temperatures (around 1050°C) should be used to optimize results with a slight reduction in hardness.
Approximate As-Quenched Hardness Before Tempering:
- 1080°C followed by liquid nitrogen – 61-63HRC
- 1080°C followed by dry ice – 60-62HRC
- 1050°C followed by freezer – 59HRC
Recommended Working Hardness
59-62HRC
