New Steel – Crucible S45VN

[Larrin]

Crucible and Niagara have just announced a new stainless powder metallurgy steel – S45VN. I was able to get a bar of it early to do a range of experiments on it including hardness, corrosion resistance, and toughness. I have a recommendation on how to best heat treat it too. How does it compare to the existing stainless knife steels? https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/11/01/crucible-s45vn-steel/

 

[Robert Erickson]

As always, a thorough informative article. Thanks Larrin!
Any idea who is stocking it? I'm game to try it.

 

[John mc c]

And just as I have the water on for a bath too
Thanks larrin

 

[shqxk]

Thanks for such a great article as always!

 

[shqxk]

Anyway, CPM-S45VN does sound kinda boring marketing wise IMO.

Crucible should start to use some cool name like what Uddeholm did... Vanax, Elmax, Sleipnir, Rigor for example.

 

[Larrin]

Anyway, CPM-S45VN does sound kinda boring marketing wise IMO.

Crucible should start to use some cool name like what Uddeholm did... Vanax, Elmax, Sleipnir, Rigor for example.

I think the name is a concern. After all, S35VN is only 10 years old but is already considered old and tired due to being grouped in with S30V. And S30V is only considered boring because it is so common. They need a way to differentiate from S30V and S35VN to build excitement, I think.

 

[Larrin]

As always, a thorough informative article. Thanks Larrin!
Any idea who is stocking it? I'm game to try it.

Just Niagara for now, but you need to call. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/new-cpm-grade.1692950/

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Tanks for the great article. May have to call and check some out.

 

[Larrin]

Tanks for the great article. May have to call and check some out.

Since you like S35VN I think you are a good fit to try the new grade.

 

[Jason Volkert]

Larrin great article!!!! They defiantly do need to come up with some cooler names.

 

[Willie71]

Looks like a nice, incremental improvement on S35vn. Just a note, I heat treated several more samples of M390, at lower hardness.


Thanks Larrin! Great article again.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Since you like S35VN I think you are a good fit to try the new grade.

I sent Bob a message.

 

[Kevin Cox]

How would Z FiNit compare to it in holding it's edge.

 

[Larrin]

How would Z FiNit compare to it in holding it's edge.

S45VN has roughly 70% better edge retention.

 

[DeadboxHero]

Looks like a nice, incremental improvement on S35vn. Just a note, I heat treated several more samples of M390, at lower hardness.


Thanks Larrin! Great article again.

I wasn't excited until I saw Larrin's micrographs at 2000f

The particals are much finer than S35VN

And s45vn can run harder and with a better ratio of Vanadium Carbide to Chromium Carbides than s35vn has.

Got a bar coming that I bought from @nsm to play with to see if I like it.

 

[Kevin Cox]

Larrin Thank you. Wow 70% that makes z finit sound like lead hahaha
Just got a quote from nsm on s45vn going to give it a go in some hunting knives.

 

[Willie71]

How would Z FiNit compare to it in holding it's edge.

vanax would be more comparable to s45vn or s35vn. Z-fiNit is more like AEB-l.

 

[Jerry Wang]

S45VN price is lower than S35VN.

 

[Kevin Cox]

Willie71
Yes vanax looks good but its crazy in price.
I'm going to try s45vn . Jeff at nsm was great to deal with . If it's equal to elmax ill be more than happy.

 

[Willie71]

Willie71
Yes vanax looks good but its crazy in price.
I'm going to try s45vn . Jeff at nsm was great to deal with . If it's equal to elmax ill be more than happy.

yes, Vanax is crazy in price. It doesn’t offer much over s35vn or s45vn (no personal experience with the latter yet) except slightly increased toughness and extreme corrosion resistance. I really like the knives I’ve made with vanax.