Crucible Industries / USA

CPM 15V

Ultra High Wear Resistance Tool Steel (Non-Stainless)60–65 HRCCrucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM)

Composition

Core alloying elements define the baseline trade-off between wear resistance, corrosion behavior, and toughness.

Material Overview

CPM 15V is one of the highest vanadium-content tool steels produced by Crucible Industries using the CPM process. It is engineered for extreme wear resistance and cutting performance, with a very high volume of vanadium carbides that dramatically increase edge retention. However, its extreme hardness and carbide density reduce toughness and make sharpening very difficult. It is non-stainless and requires maintenance to prevent corrosion. It is mainly used in niche high-performance and experimental knife applications where maximum edge life is the top priority.

Performance Radar

Use four core metrics to understand the usable operating envelope of this steel at a glance.

Edge Retention

Toughness

Corrosion Resistance

Sharpenability

Edge Retention

10.0

Toughness

6.0

Corrosion Resistance

3.0

Sharpenability

3.0

Advantages

Extreme edge retention (top tier)
Very high wear resistance
Fine CPM structure improves consistency
Excellent for long-duration slicing tasks
High hardness capability

Disadvantages

Very difficult to sharpen
Low toughness compared to balanced steels
Poor corrosion resistance (non-stainless)
Niche and expensive material
Not suitable for impact or abusive use

At A Glance

CPM 15V is an ultra-high vanadium powder metallurgy tool steel with extreme edge retention and wear resistance, designed for maximum cutting longevity in specialized applications.