CPM S110V and CPM CruWear are developed by Crucible Industries using their proprietary Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) process.
S110V excels in applications demanding extreme edge retention and corrosion resistance, whereas CruWear shines in scenarios requiring a balance of wear resistance and toughness.
S110V, is an evolution of the popular S90V, represents the pinnacle of wear resistance and corrosion resistance in the CPM lineup.
It surpasses even S90V in these aspects, rivaling the extreme wear resistance of steels like Maxamet while maintaining stainless properties.
CruWear, on the other hand, strikes a balance between high wear resistance and exceptional toughness, positioning itself as a more versatile option for a wider range of cutting tasks.
The key differences between these steels lie in their compositions and resulting properties.
S110V boasts higher carbon content (2.8% vs 1.1%) and significantly more vanadium (9% vs 2.4%) than CruWear, along with additions of niobium and cobalt.
This complex alloy makeup gives S110V superior edge retention and corrosion resistance, but at the cost of toughness and ease of sharpening.
CruWear, with its more moderate alloy content, offers better impact resistance and easier maintenance while still providing very good wear resistance.
CruWear vs S110V Steel At A Glance
| Property | CruWear Steel | S110V Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness (HRC) | 60-65 (aim: 62) | 58-61 (typical application) |
| Edge Retention | Very Good | Excellent |
| Corrosion Resistance | Moderate | Excellent better than CruWear |
| Toughness | Excellent better than S110V | Good |
| Ease of Sharpening | Moderate comparable to D2 | Very Difficult |
| Typical Applications | General-purpose knives, hard-use tools | High-end cutlery, specialized cutting tools |
Hardness
S110V steel achieves higher hardness levels than CruWear steel.
S110V can be heat treated to reach hardness levels of 65+ HRC, with typical application hardness in the range of 58-61 HRC.
In contrast, the recommended heat treatment for CruWear aims for a hardness of 62 HRC, though it can be hardened to 60-64 HRC depending on the heat treatment parameters.
S110V’s higher attainable hardness is due to its more complex alloy composition, including higher carbon content (2.8% vs 1.1% in CruWear) and the presence of strong carbide-forming elements like vanadium (9%) and niobium (3%).
CruWear, while still capable of reaching high hardness levels, is designed for a better balance of wear resistance and toughness.
The aim hardness for CruWear (62 HRC) falls within the middle of S110V’s typical application range (58-61 HRC), suggesting that in many applications, S110V would be used at a similar or slightly lower hardness than CruWear’s recommended hardness.
Toughness
CruWear steel generally offers superior toughness compared to S110V steel.
This is primarily due to CruWear’s lower carbon content (1.1% vs 2.8% in S110V) and lower overall alloy content, which allows for better impact resistance.
In toughness tests, CruWear shows significantly higher values, with impact toughness reported at 125 ft-lbs (165 J) at its recommended heat treatment.
S110V is known to have lower toughness due to its higher carbide content and harder overall structure.
Crucible data sheet shows S110V’s toughness is lower than S90V, which itself is considered to have moderate toughness for a high-wear resistant steel.
CruWear’s superior toughness makes it more suitable for applications requiring resistance to chipping or breaking, such as large chopping knives or tools subject to impact.
Edge Retention
S110V steel offers better performance than CruWear steel in edge retention and wear resistance.
S110V contains significantly higher amounts of vanadium (9%) and carbon (2.8%), as well as the addition of niobium (3%), which form hard carbides that contribute greatly to wear resistance.
These elements, particularly the combination of vanadium and niobium carbides, give S110V exceptional wear resistance and edge retention.
In edge retention tests, S110V performed similarly to CPM-10V, which is known for its excellent wear resistance.
CruWear, while still offering good wear resistance, doesn’t reach the same levels as S110V. CruWear contains 1.1% carbon and 2.4% vanadium, significantly less than S110V.
In comparative wear resistance tests, CruWear is shown to have better wear resistance than D2 steel, but it doesn’t approach the levels of highly wear-resistant steels like M2, which S110V surpasses.
The data shows that S110V steel edge retention is notably higher than that of CruWear steel.
This makes S110V particularly suitable for applications where frequent resharpening is inconvenient or where maximum cut longevity is desired.
Corrosion Resistance
S110V steel exhibits superior corrosion resistance than CruWear steel.
S110V is designed as a highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel, with a composition that includes 15.25% chromium, 2.25% molybdenum, and the addition of niobium.
This combination of elements, particularly the high chromium content and the presence of molybdenum, contributes to excellent corrosion resistance.
In corrosion tests, S110V has shown performance similar to or better than other highly corrosion-resistant steels like M390.
S110V stainless steel demonstrated very good resistance in saltwater tests and performed well in various corrosive environments.
CruWear, on the other hand, is not classified as a stainless steel and offers much lower corrosion resistance compared to S110V.
CruWear contains only 7.5% chromium, which is below the typical 12-13% threshold for stainless steels.
While CruWear does include 1.6% molybdenum, which can enhance corrosion resistance to some degree, its overall composition is not designed for high corrosion resistance.
In practical terms, S110V would be highly resistant to rust and staining in most environments, including marine applications or high-humidity conditions.
CruWear, however, would be much more susceptible to rust and corrosion, especially in harsh environments or if left exposed to moisture for extended periods.
Ease of Sharpening
When comparing the ease of sharpening between S110V and CruWear steels, CruWear generally presents as the easier steel to sharpen.
S110V, due to its high alloy content and large volume of hard carbides, is notably difficult to sharpen.
S110V steel contains 9% vanadium and 3% niobium, which form extremely hard carbides.
These carbides, while excellent for wear resistance and edge retention, make the steel quite abrasive resistant and thus challenging to grind and sharpen.
S110V data sheet recommends using SG type alumina wheels or CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) wheels for best grinding performance.
The fine carbide structure of S110V, while beneficial for overall performance, can make achieving a sharp edge more time-consuming and labor-intensive.
CruWear, while still challenging to sharpen than simple carbon steels, is generally easier to work with than S110V.
CruWear lower alloy content, particularly the lower amounts of carbide-forming elements, makes it less resistant to abrasion during the sharpening process.
The data sheet for CruWear mentions that its machinability and grindability are similar to or slightly better than D2 steel.
In daily usage terms, the user would find that sharpening a CruWear blade requires less time and effort compared to S110V.
CruWear would respond more readily to a wider range of abrasives, while S110V necessitate more specialized sharpening tools or techniques to achieve optimal results.
Final Thoughts on CruWear vs S110V Steel
In conclusion, S110V offers superior edge retention and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for specialized applications where these properties are paramount.
However, S110V extreme wear resistance comes at the cost of reduced toughness and significantly increased difficulty in sharpening.
CruWear, while not matching S110V’s edge retention or corrosion resistance, provides an excellent balance of wear resistance, toughness, and ease of maintenance.
Based on personal experience and the properties discussed, I would recommend CruWear for most knife applications.
CruWear combination of good edge retention, superior toughness, and relative ease of sharpening makes it more user-friendly and versatile for everyday use.
My brief experience with S110V knives, while impressive in terms of edge retention, proved challenging due to the difficulty in maintaining and resharpening the blade.
For many users, particularly those who prefer to maintain their own knives, CruWear’s more balanced profile may prove more practical and enjoyable in the long run.