Carpenter / USA

CTS-XHP

High Carbon Stainless Steel / Powder Metallurgy Steel60–64 HRCParticle Metallurgy (Micro-Melt® Process)

Composition

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

Material Overview

CTS-XHP is a high-carbon stainless steel developed by Carpenter Technology Corporation. It is designed to provide a balance between wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and toughness. Often compared to D2 due to its cutting performance, CTS-XHP offers better stain resistance while maintaining excellent edge retention and high hardness potential. Its fine microstructure supports keen edges and stable cutting performance, making it popular in premium production and custom knives.

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

8.0

Toughness

7.0

Corrosion Resistance

8.0

Sharpenability

6.0

Advantages

Excellent edge retention
Higher corrosion resistance than D2
High hardness capability
Fine grain structure supports sharp edges
Good balance between wear resistance and toughness

Disadvantages

Toughness lower than steels like MagnaCut or CPM 3V
Slightly more difficult to sharpen than simpler steels
Not fully stainless under extreme conditions

At A Glance

CTS-XHP is a high-performance stainless steel combining strong edge retention, high hardness, and good corrosion resistance, often considered a stainless alternative to D2 steel.