Crucible Industries / USA

S125V

Powder Metallurgy Stainless Steel60–62 HRCCrucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM)

Composition

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

Material Overview

CPM-S125V is one of the highest vanadium-content stainless steels produced by Crucible Industries using the CPM process. It is engineered for extreme wear resistance and unmatched edge retention, thanks to its very high volume of vanadium carbides. While it offers good corrosion resistance for its category, its extreme hardness makes it difficult to sharpen and somewhat brittle under heavy impact compared to more balanced steels. It is typically reserved for enthusiasts and specialized high-performance applications.

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

8.0

Sharpenability

4.0

Advantages

Extreme edge retention
Very high wear resistance
Fine CPM structure improves consistency
Excellent for long-duration cutting tasks
High hardness potential

Disadvantages

Very difficult to sharpen
Lower toughness compared to balanced steels
Expensive and niche availability
Not ideal for heavy impact use

At A Glance

CPM-S125V is an ultra-high vanadium stainless steel with extreme wear resistance and industry-leading edge retention, designed for maximum cutting endurance in demanding applications.