What do the numbers mean?

[me2]

Does anyone know what the numbers mean in S10V, S30V, S60V, and S90V. For that matter, 3V and 1V. I know they are names/ID #'s for different CPM steels, presumably all from Crucible, but do the number mean anything specific, like in 1095 meaning 0.95% carbon, some manganese and thats about it?

 

[Cliff Stamp]

The stainless steels were origionally called 440V and 420V based on upgrades basically of the 440 and 420 cutlery stainless. They were changed to S60V/S90V simply because it sells better, 440C vs 440V isn't as impressive as 440C vs S60V.

Some of the numbers are very close or are the vanadium percentages, there are actually a whole bunch of similar steels, 10V, 15V, 18V, 20V, etc. which basically increase C/V percentages. Note these steels are also called different names, CPM-10V is AISI A11 for example.

There is a lot of info available in the patents :

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5989490.html

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5936169.html

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5238482.html

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5344477.html

-Cliff

 

[me2]

The reason I ask is that I read an article in one of the magazines that said that the numbers are the percentages of vanadium in the mix. It was not very specific. I mean, the vanadium isnt near 30%, 60%, or 90% in any of them is it? Perhaps its like the 1095 example, where XX95 represents 0.95% carbon. They also werent talking about volume percentages for the respective vanadium carbides, I dont think. Are the numbers derived from the equation given on the patents site for essentially carbon equivalence: %C+X*%V, where X is whatever constant they used in the equation? I suppose I could do the math myself, but I'm too lazy and would rather just gripe about it.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

The nonstainless ones are the vanadium percentages 10V, 15V, 20V, etc. are 10%, 15%, 20% vanadium. Some of the steels like S90V actually have different versions with different C/V (9/12/15) levels.

-Cliff