Crucible Industries / USA

CPM S90V

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel59–61 HRCCrucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM)

Composition

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

Material Overview

CPM-S90V is a high-end powder metallurgy stainless steel developed by Crucible Industries. It features a very high vanadium content, which forms extremely hard vanadium carbides, dramatically improving wear resistance and edge retention. While it offers excellent corrosion resistance and long-lasting sharpness, it is more difficult to sharpen compared to lower-vanadium steels. It is commonly used in premium knives where maximum edge life is a 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

7.0

Corrosion Resistance

9.0

Sharpenability

5.0

Advantages

Outstanding edge retention
Extremely high wear resistance
Good corrosion resistance
Fine PM structure supports stable edges
Excellent for long-term cutting performance

Disadvantages

Difficult to sharpen
Lower toughness compared to balanced steels
High cost
Requires proper sharpening tools and skill

At A Glance

CPM-S90V is a high-vanadium powder metallurgy stainless steel known for exceptional edge retention and wear resistance, widely used in premium EDC and high-performance knives.