What Is S90v Steel? – [Complete Steel Guide]

S90v steel is a type of steel that has been specially developed for the automotive industry. It’s used in many different parts of an automobile, including engine blocks and exhaust manifolds.

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The s90V steel plate is widely used as the material of the car body. Because it can be easily welded, it is also popularly used to make auto accessories such as bumpers, fenders, hoods, etc.

What Is S90v Steel? – [Complete Steel Guide]

However, many people are left wondering if s90v steel can be used to make knives, and how the quality of an s90v steel knife will compare to other steel knives.

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about s90v steel. We hope that our guide will help you understand more about this kind of steel. Read on for more!

So, What Exactly Is S90v Steel?

S90v steel is a type of stainless steel with added carbon and vanadium. The carbon and vanadium content mean that this steel has excellent wear resistance, while the stainless element offers excellent corrosion resistance.

On top of being key steel used in the automotive industry, s90v steel is also used for the following:

Pelletizing equipment
Wear components for both chemical and food processing
Long-wearing specialty cutlery
Plastic injection and extrusion feedscrews
Knives

There are two types of s90V steel plates, which are S90V-1 and S90V-2. They have similar chemical compositions but their tensile strengths differ slightly.

The difference between them lies in their heat-treatment process. In general, S90V-1 is produced by direct quenching after hot rolling, while S90V-2 is produced by cold rolling followed by annealing.

What Is S90v Steel Composed Of?

S90v steel is composed of the following:

Chromium (14%). Chromium is excellent for edge retention and tensile strength. It also helps to enhance both wear and corrosion resistance.
Vanadium (9%). Vanadium also improves wear resistance, as well as hardenability.
Carbon (2.3%). Carbon will improve the wear and corrosion resistance, and hardness of s90v steel. However, too much carbon will decrease the overall strength of the steel.
Molybdenum (1%). Molybdenum helps to increase the strength and machinability of s90v steel.
Silicon (0.5%). Silicon helps to improve the strength of s90v steel.
Manganese (0.5%). Manganese will help to increase the hardness of the steel.
Tungsten (0.4%). This will improve the hardness and wear resistance of s90v steel.
Sulfur (0.03%). Just like molybdenum, the sulfur used in s90v steel will help to improve its machinability.
Phosphorus (0.03%). Phosphorus will help to increase the strength of s90v steel.

What Are The Properties Of S90v Steel?

CPM S90v steel has the following properties!

Corrosion Resistance: S90v steel has excellent corrosion resistance thanks to its composition. It is mainly thanks to the 14% of chromium.
Wear Resistance: S90v steel has excellent wear resistance, mostly thanks to the vanadium present! This makes it very durable.
Machinability: S90v steel has excellent machinability.
Edge Retention: The edge retention of s90v steel may just be the best there is, thanks to the high levels of both carbon and vanadium.
Toughness: S90v steel will have an average level of toughness thanks to the increased level of corrosion resistance and hardness. However, this will make it more brittle compared to other types of steel.
Sharpness: It is important to note that it may be difficult to both sharpen and grind s90v steel. This is because it can hold an edge well.

So, Is S90V Steel Good For Knives?

S90v steel is a great steel for knives! It has many of the qualities necessary for a good knife, such as excellent corrosion and wears resistance, edge retention, etc.

However, s90v steel is definitely not perfect when it comes to knives. S90v steel can be very difficult to sharpen, and nobody wants to use a blunt knife.

If you want to sharpen a knife that holds its edge well, you need to start by cleaning the blade with a dry rag or brush. Then, you should apply some lubricant to the blade before starting to grind it.

Once you are done grinding the blade, you should hone it until it is shiny. Then, you should polish the knife with a wet rag or brush.

Is There A Replacement For S90v Steel?

S90v steel actually does have an excellent equivalent! The closest thing you will find to this type of steel would be s110v steel. Both types of steel have high wear and corrosion resistance, excellent hardness, and edge retention.

Both types of steel are also brittle. However, there are many types of steel that compare to s90v steel, and it is up to you to decide what is best for you.

How Does S90v Steel Compare To Other Types Of Steel?

Now that you know everything you need to know about s90v steel, it is good to compare it to other types of steel to determine which is the best choice for you. Let’s check out a few examples!

S90v Steel VS S110v Steel

Final Thoughts

Overall, s90v steel has many properties that make it excellent for many things. This includes being made into knives. S90v steel is wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and has excellent edge retention thanks to its vanadium and carbon content.

It is often better than its steel counterparts in this regard, but it often loses out when it comes to toughness and sharpness.

The ease of sharpness is an important factor to consider when it comes to knives, and while you are able to sharpen s90v steel, it will take a lot of time and effort.

That being said, you are still able to sharpen s90v steel, and with its other properties, it is a tough knife to beat in terms of quality.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVzRKrsBZ44

CPM S90V Blade Steel…Everything You Need To Know (Benchmade 940-1) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVzRKrsBZ44)

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Tom Bower

Hi, my name is Tom Bower and I have had a passion for knives since I was in my early 20s. I moved out on my own and started collecting my own furniture, utensils, and hobbies. Not only do I have a passion for cooking, but I also love being outdoors in adventure mode.

I have dedicated part of my life to finding my favorite knives for different occasions. Have you ever tried to cut through a steak with a blunt knife? Or a rope with a low-quality pocket knife? Once you get a taste of quality, you’ll never go back to what you knew before.