What does Cobalt do in cpm s110v?

[DeadboxHero]

Time to ask the gurus

I noticed that between all the stainless CPM steels Cobalt is unique to S110v

What's the idea behind this? Does it have to do with improving the niobium, and molybdenum carbides interferencing with the matrix in concert with the vanadium and chromium?

I can't figure out what Cobalt does but it seems to be in alot of steels that I enjoy sharpening and take great edges.

Any Info?

Thanks guys.

 

[samclaymore]

http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelelements.shtml

Cobalt (Co) - Increases hardness, also allows for higher quenching temperatures (during the heat treatment procedure). Intensifies the individual effects of other elements in more complex steels. Co is not a carbide former, however adding Cobalt to the alloy allows for higher attainable hardness and higher red hot hardness.

http://www.crucible.com/PDFs\DataSheets2010\Datasheet CPM S110Vv12010.pdf

I'm not an expert, let alone a guru. But as far as I can tell, it's an excellent bonding angent for high alloy SS. Like M390, S110V. That also can deliver HC Steel (or better) rockwell hardness. It also allows for higher temps needed for these heavy alloy SS to be made. While giving a fine grain structure. Aka a uniform steel with less inclusions that could cause odd behavior in a tool. I could be wrong so, hopefully the better educated around here answer soon.

 

[shqxk]

Cobalt doesn't have the effect of pinning the grain boundary during high heat like V,Mo,W, Cr but it does raise up the Ms temperature so the steel will likely to have less RA, Cobalt also slow down the diffusion during high temperature = high strength at high temp.