CTS-XHP vs Elmax

F

FrozenTurtle

Joined
Mar 14, 2017
Messages
32
This not a which is better question. I was wondering how Elmax and CTS-XHP compare to each other at the same rockwell or whichever rockwell is their sweet spot? How does their impact strength,toughness,and rust resistance compare? Is there any other american alternatives to Elmax? I just want to know any advantages one has over the other.
 
There are very similar in real world use. Elmax may be a bit tougher, but the difference is negligible.
 
i would choose Elmax over CTS-XHP for impact strength,toughness,and rust resistance
do i have evidence of this with your required hrc, blade geometry etc ? sadly no, but elmax has been awesome in these tasks in my experience.
 
Elmax is the most versatile super stainless steel period.

It is the toughest steel of all powdered stainless with excellent wear resistance. I would even preferred Elmax over M390 or S90V.

XHP is one of the best overall performance stainless steel but Elmax is just slightly better.
 
Do you know any other american alternatives to Elmax? I have heard some people say Elmax is not worth a penny more than S30V or S35VN.
 
Are you going to be making a knife with the steel you choose? What size of blade and type of knife is it that you are interested in?
 
FrozenTurtle said:
This not a which is better question. I was wondering how Elmax and CTS-XHP compare to each other at the same rockwell or whichever rockwell is their sweet spot? How does their impact strength,toughness,and rust resistance compare? Is there any other american alternatives to Elmax? I just want to know any advantages one has over the other.
Click to expand...

Sweet spot in heat treatment depends on intended use. You sacrifice something for something in heat treatment if you want to prioritize a certain property.

I believe the older S60V was similar to Elmax.

Both are good steels for pocket knife and 4 inch foxed blades designed for cutting IMO with someone knowing what they are doing in regards of heat treatment. For large chopppers I personally prefer something else.
 
shqxk said:
Elmax is the most versatile super stainless steel period.

It is the toughest steel of all powdered stainless with excellent wear resistance. I would even preferred Elmax over M390 or S90V.

XHP is one of the best overall performance stainless steel but Elmax is just slightly better.
Click to expand...

I haven't had but only 2 knives in Elmax and they were pretty decent. Not sure I had enough use with them to agree with this statement. It also depends on how well the HT is.

Guess I need to get another just to give it a testing.
 
shqxk said:
Elmax is the most versatile super stainless steel period.

It is the toughest steel of all powdered stainless with excellent wear resistance. I would even preferred Elmax over M390 or S90V.

XHP is one of the best overall performance stainless steel but Elmax is just slightly better.
Click to expand...

Id argue that CPM 154 is the toughest of the Powdered Stainless, but that Elmax has more edge holding
 
I like both steels, and Ankerson seems to rank them as equals. For the final word on this, ask Jim.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Id argue that CPM 154 is the toughest of the Powdered Stainless, but that Elmax has more edge holding
Click to expand...

I never have experience with CPM-154 but I have use several blades made of Elmax and its toughness is comparable to XHP.

According to blind toughness test, Elmax at 61RC is tougher than other PM stainless even they were as low as 57RC, this including CPM154 and S35VN.



I believe Chuck from AKS has done some testing on these steel and result is pretty much the same. Elmax is the toughest PM SS follow by XHP.
 
I wonder if we gave 100 BF members a pair of unlabeled knives and asked them to use them for a month and then tell us which one was elmax and which one was CTS XHP.

I'm willing to bet very few or no one would be able to tell them difference.
 
shqxk said:
I never have experience with CPM-154 but I have use several blades made of Elmax and its toughness is comparable to XHP.

According to blind toughness test, Elmax at 61RC is tougher than other PM stainless even they were as low as 57RC, this including CPM154 and S35VN.



I believe Chuck from AKS has done some testing on these steel and result is pretty much the same. Elmax is the toughest PM SS follow by XHP.
Click to expand...

I don't understand how this post helps the claim that elmax is the toughest if CPM 154 has not been used, also that chart doesn't show anything, let alone argue that elmax is tougher then CPM 154, Chuck doing some testing doesn't tell me anything either.

Meanwhile if you lower the carbon and carbide volume generally speaking the toughness increases

I feel like the Elmax toughness is blown out of proportion, its tough for what it is but its still a steel at 1.70 carbon and 18% chromium with the 3% vanadium.

thrid gen powder or not, that's alot of volume and can't beat physics

there is a reason the toughest steels in the world don't have past 1% carbon and plus 12% chromium (3v, infi,5160,80crv2)

154 cm is a much simpler alloy, powder it and it can be very tough.

1.05 carbon, 14% chromium, 4% molybdenum

Id be interested in which is tougher between CTS- 40cp and CPM154 now that would be interesting.


if I had a gun to my head and had to choose a sword or axe in elmax or cpm154...
well both are the wrong steel for that application:D

but I would have to choose cpm 154 because it is tougher, More ductile, less likely to break then elmax if all things were equal.

I don't hate Elmax, its awesome steel,
for a knife I'd rather have Elmax, but its not the toughest powdered stainless steel.
 
I was always a big fan of Elmax, it's tough and highly stainless but I really like the way XHP sharpens an performs as an EDC steel. I would pick XHP Personally.
 
By Crucibles own admission, CPM 154 is the toughest of their "common" PM stainless blade steels and has about 75% of the abrasion resistance of S30V and S35VN. The interestingthingabout S35VNis that it apparently is tougher than S30V,but with the same abrasion resistance.
Sometimes, a good indication of the properties of various steels can be seen in what experienced people choose to use them for. Number of high end kitchen knife makers used to use CPM 154 until many in that "industry" switched over to higher hardness AEB-L. Some folks continue to use CTS-XHP for such applications. That would seem to speak to perception that XHP the ability to take and hold a VERY stable fine edge.
DeadboxHero said:
I don't understand how this post helps the claim that elmax is the toughest if CPM 154 has not been used, also that chart doesn't show anything, let alone argue that elmax is tougher then CPM 154, Chuck doing some testing doesn't tell me anything either.

Meanwhile if you lower the carbon and carbide volume generally speaking the toughness increases

I feel like the Elmax toughness is blown out of proportion, its tough for what it is but its still a steel at 1.70 carbon and 18% chromium with the 3% vanadium.

thrid gen powder or not, that's alot of volume and can't beat physics

there is a reason the toughest steels in the world don't have past 1% carbon and plus 12% chromium (3v, infi,5160,80crv2)

154 cm is a much simpler alloy, powder it and it can be very tough.

1.05 carbon, 14% chromium, 4% molybdenum

Id be interested in which is tougher between CTS- 40cp and CPM154 now that would be interesting.


if I had a gun to my head and had to choose a sword or axe in elmax or cpm154...
well both are the wrong steel for that application:D

but I would have to choose cpm 154 because it is tougher, More ductile, less likely to break then elmax if all things were equal.

I don't hate Elmax, its awesome steel,
for a knife I'd rather have Elmax, but its not the toughest powdered stainless steel.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top