Unique tool steel CPM S90V is produced using the Crucible Metallurgy method. For extraordinarily good wear resistance, it is martensitic stainless steel with a lot of vanadium carbides. S90V significantly outperforms 440C, D2, and other high chromium tool steels in terms of wear resistance. Its corrosion resistance is at least as good as 440C. With sufficient chromium remaining in the matrix to provide adequate corrosion resistance, high vanadium content favors the development of hard vanadium carbides rather than chromium carbides for wear resistance.
S90V is a great replacement for 440C where increased wear is the main concern because of its wear and corrosion resistance. In situations where higher corrosion resistance is advantageous as well, it can take the place of D2 or other tool steels.
Chemical Composition of Crucible CPM S90V Steel
For the techies, the original patent for CPM S90V steel, which Crucible Industries originally called CPM 420V, is linked here!
Let’s examine the key parts of S90V stainless steel for the sake of this post and to make things simpler to comprehend and see what they add to the steel and, consequently, to your kitchen knife.
| Iron | 72.24% |
| Carbon | 2.30% |
| Chromium | 14.00% |
| Molybdenum | 1.00% |
| Tungsten | 0.40% |
| Vanadium | 9.00% |
| Manganese | 0.50% |
| Silicone | 0.50% |
| Phosphorus | 0.03% |
| Sulfur | 0.03% |
- Chromium: S90V steel has 14% chromium. The chemical element chromium contributes to the corrosion resistance and hardness of your knife blade.
- Vanadium: The vanadium percentage of S90V steel is 9%. Chemically speaking, vanadium is a malleable transition metal that is made tougher by the vanadium carbides in S90V due to its abrasion resistance.
- Carbon: S90V steel has 2.3% carbon. The steel becomes harder and more resistant to wear due to the carbon. The best steels only contain trace levels of carbon since excessive amounts can cause steel to become brittle.
- Molybdenum: This 1%-volatile chemical component of S90V makes the steel simpler to work with and shape during production. The steel alloy gains strength from molybdenum as well.
- Manganese: To strengthen the alloy’s hardenability, S90V adds 0.5% manganese, a chemical element. Similar to carbon, it can only be present in trace levels without weakening metals.
- Silicon: To increase the hardness of the steel, silicon, a chemical ingredient that should not be mistaken with silicone, is present in S90V at a percentage of 0.5%.
- Tungsten: The tungsten concentration of S90V is 0.4%. Your knife becomes harder and more resistant to wear thanks to the chemical ingredient and refractory metal tungsten.
- Phosphorus: The S90V knife steel’s strength comes from its 0.03% phosphorus component.
- Sulfur: S90V steel contains 0.03% sulfur. The addition of sulfur improves the steel alloy’s machinability and makes it simpler to work with.
Key Properties of S90V Steel
Let’s take a closer look at what makes S90V steel a good choice for knife buyers by breaking it down into the main factors that affect how well a knife works.
Edge Retention
S90V knives are the best in the business for keeping an edge over time, according to knife lovers. They’re about as excellent as it gets for a kitchen knife.
Hardness
The Rockwell Hardness Scale is frequently used to rate the hardness of materials, and S90V stainless steel has a high score of 58/59. This is extremely tough for knife steel and will offer your home kitchen knives a lot of strength and durability.
Corrosion Resistance
No knife owner wants rust on their knives, and corrosion resistance is another issue. Because S90V steel contains more than 10% chromium, it is stainless steel that resists corrosion.
Wear Resistance
S90V steel has a high vanadium content, which contributes to its excellent resistance to wear, knocks, and bumps. S90V is recognized as the best material available, if not the best, for wear resistance among collectors and manufacturers of knives.
S90V knives are expensive because of this, but you can be confident that you’re receiving a durable item that’s nearly indestructible for everyday use.
Sharpness
A S90V knife blade maintains its razor-sharp edge over time because it is resistant to dulling and forming rough areas. Once the blade has been sharpened, the edge will stay that way for a very long time.
Toughness
S90V performs better than rival steels like M390, ZDP189, and S110V when measured for toughness. The unique Powder Metallurgy technique used to create S90V assures an equal distribution of fine carbides in the alloy, giving it enhanced toughness relative to other hard steels even though it has a brittleness component like other hard steels.
Ease of Sharpening
S90V stainless steel is tough to sharpen. This is due to the steel’s inherent high wear resistance. S90V knives should be sharpened with diamond grit sharpeners, a Spyderco Sharpmaker, or by sending them to the manufacturer.
The flip side of this is that your S90V knife will seldom ever need to be sharpened if it is handled, stored, and used properly; it is designed to keep an edge for a long period without needing to be sharpened frequently.
How Does S90V Perform as a Kitchen Knife Material?
Users claim that an S90V stainless steel knife is well worth the cost for kitchen use and food preparation.
The S90V family of knives offers exceptionally long-lasting performance if they are stored properly and dried completely after each use.
Knives made of S90V live up to their reputation as “super steel.” Knives made of S90V offer top-tier durability and performance in the kitchen, with customers noting an exceptional resistance to blade chipping and blunting, aside from the fussy sharpening needed (and this is rarely needed). These knives are deserving of their reputation in the knife industry and maintain an edge with nearly supernatural ability.
How S90V Ranks Against Its Competing Steels
S90V vs S30V Steel
The knives made of S90V steel are the obvious winners in terms of long-term edge retention. The S30V wins for sharpened simplicity. Both steels have Rockwell hardness ratings between 58 and 61, which are so close together that, depending on the steel’s heat treatment, they might even be considered equal.
S90V vs M390 Steel
It is true that the S90V steel knife will retain its edge better than the M390 steel knife, but this is not meant as a slight.
Both types of knife steel are naturally brittle, which is to be expected with hard steel, however, M390 steel has a slightly higher Rockwell hardness rating than S90V (60–62).
It is much simpler to deal with the M390 in terms of sharpness and machinability.
The difference between the two steels is so minor that many knife specialists would find it difficult to choose which steel is “better” between the two. M390 wins in terms of corrosion resistance.
Final Words
When conducting research for this piece, I was astounded by the sheer amount of knife collectors and steel aficionados who openly declared that they thought this was the best material for a knife’s blade. A few disagreements did occur, but they were the exception rather than the rule. It appears that many smaller, one-person businesses use CPM S90V for two reasons. One is that more and more clients are asking for it, and two is that the alloy is performing well for the knifemakers themselves.
Nevertheless, it will be difficult to locate a knife made of S90V that costs less than $150. The majority are between $200 and $300, though I have seen some go as high as $700. What exactly do you receive for your money then? You get a blade with edge retention that defies D2 tool steel, wear resistance that is nearly magical, and corrosion resistance that easily bests 440C. As time passes, keep an eye out for manufacturers who are using Crucible’s CPM S90V for their blades. Price reductions will follow a wider availability and lower cost. Put this incredible “super steel” on your wish list of knives to collect. You can end up becoming spoiled by its distinctive qualities.
