Elmax vs S30V Steel

Elmax and S30V are two premium stainless blade steels that offer an exceptional combination of properties for knives.

Elmax steel is produced by Bohler-Uddeholm, while S30V is manufactured by Crucible Industries as part of their CPM line of powder metallurgy steels.

The key difference lies in the vanadium content, with S30V containing 4% vanadium while Elmax has 3% vanadium.

This higher vanadium carbide volume gives S30V slightly better edge retention and wear resistance compared to Elmax steel.

However, Elmax exhibits marginally improved corrosion resistance over S30V due to Elmax’s higher 18% chromium content and lower vanadium level.

Both steels provide better performance than other popular knife steels like 440C, 154CM, and AUS-8, and are comparable to more advanced steels like CPM S35VN and S45VN steel.

Elmax vs S30V Steel At A Glance

Corrosion Resistance

Elmax and S30V are stainless steels, however, Elmax steel exhibits slightly better corrosion properties than S30V steel for knives.

This is primarily attributed to the higher chromium content in Elmax, at 18% Cr versus 14% Cr in S30V.

The increased chromium content results in the improved formation of a passive protective chromium oxide surface layer that enhances corrosion resistance. 

Testing shows Elmax provides corrosion resistance better than 440C steel, while S30V has corrosion resistance comparable to SG2 steel.

However, both steels still offer sufficient corrosion resistance for most knife applications.

The slightly better corrosion performance of Elmax means it can better withstand discoloration and pitting in harsh, wet environments.

But S30V will also provide good corrosion resistance for typical knife usage, with proper care and maintenance.

For critical uses in saltwater or highly corrosive settings, Elmax may provide a slight advantage. 

Toughness

Toughness is an important property for knives, as it indicates the ability to resist chipping and cracking when subjected to impacts and loads.

In terms of toughness of Elmax and S30V steels, both exhibit average toughness levels suitable for knives, with no clear winner between the two. 

Both steels exhibit Charpy impact toughness values around 10 ft-lbs, indicating average toughness for knife usage

For Elmax, the high chromium contents result in chromium carbide formation, which reduces toughness, unlike in Magnacut with no chromium carbides.

In S30V, the higher vanadium carbides significantly reduce the toughness while aiding wear resistance. 

Hardness

S30V Steel generally reaches slightly higher hardness values than Elmax steel.

According to the datasheet, Elmax steel can reach a maximum hardness of about 62 HRC, In contrast, S30V can reach 64 HRC with optimal heat treatment including cold treatments,

Crucible industry states the aim hardness for S30V knives is typically 58-61 HRC, while Bohler recommends an aim hardness of 60-61 HRC for Elmax knives

The slightly higher hardness values achieved by S30V result in better edge retention and wear resistance in knives. 

Edge retention

When comparing edge retention and wear resistance, S30V steel exhibits slightly better properties than Elmax steel in knife applications.

This is evidenced by CATRA (Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association) edge retention testing, which shows S30V outperforms Elmax by only about 5% in a standard cutting test.

The Crucible CATRA test showed that S30V achieved 45% better edge retention than 440C steel, while the CATRA test by Bohler showed that Elmax achieved about 42% better than 440C steel.

The higher vanadium content in S30V knife steel forms hard vanadium carbides that improve wear resistance.

Elmax also contains a high volume of carbides including vanadium, though lower than S30V, resulting in excellent wear resistance but slightly below S30V. 

The increased edge retention of S30V knives leads to longer-lasting sharpness through cutting tasks, reducing the frequency of sharpening required.

However, Elmax knives still provide outstanding wear resistance and edge retention due to their high hardness and carbide content.

In practical knife usage, the difference in edge retention between the two steels is small, and factors like heat treating and knife geometry will play a larger role. 

Though the advantage is marginal, S30V can be considered to have better edge retention for most cutting applications.

S30V steel and Elmax steel edge retention is slightly lower than that of premium Bohler M390 steel.

Ease of sharpening

Elmax steel is slightly easier to sharpen than S30V due to its lower volume of vanadium carbides.

The high vanadium content of 4% in S30V steel forms hard, abrasion-resistant vanadium carbides.

Elmax contains vanadium as well but at a lower 3% level. The reduced carbide content in Elmax compared to S30V leads to better grindability and edge sharpening.

However, both steels still contain significant carbide volumes that may require the right sharpening abrasive harder than the vanadium carbides for easier sharpening.

For knives, the easier sharpening of Elmax means knife edges can be brought back to razor sharpness with slightly less effort and time.

Final Thoughts Elmax vs S30V Steel

In my experience, S30V knives maintain better edge retention and wear resistance, likely due to its higher 4% vanadium content forming hard, abrasion-resistant carbides. 

Elmax still has good edge retention from its vanadium additions, though a bit below S30V.

However, Elmax blade steel is marginally easier to sharpen due to its lower volume of vanadium carbides compared to S30V. 

Between the two, I generally prefer S30V knife steel for its truly impressive durability and edge retention in most cutting tasks. 

However, for persons not proficient at sharpening, Elmax may be the better choice since it is a bit more forgiving when the time comes to re-sharpen the edge. 

For me, S30V knife steel hits the ideal balance of hardness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance.

But Elmax is also a well-balanced performer from Bohler-Uddeholm, with its great combination of edge holding, corrosion resistance, and relative ease of sharpening. 

So while my personal preference leans toward S30V, either steel makes an excellent choice for EDC knife applications requiring high wear resistance and corrosion resistance.