Latrobe Dura Tec 20CV .125"x1.5"x36"

$82.27

Latrobe Steel Dura Tech 20CV

C: 1.90%
Mn: .30%
Si: 0.30%
Cr: 20.0%
W: 0.60%
Mo: 1.0%
V: 4.0%

This is a powder based stainless steel. This steel is often compared directly to Crucibles S30V powder based steel. The advantage to powder based smelting technology is a better distribution of the various elements in the steel. This results in a more consistent steel with better grain grow and pattern and a much cleaner steel with little to no inclusions.

This steel has a huge amount of Chromium. It may never rust! With 4% Vanadium typical of the new super steels, this has nearly twice the cutting edge retention in CATRA tests of 440C. This is tough steel with excellent edge holding ability. It's going to take a good polish with that amount of Chromium but you are going to have to work at it.

It is interesting to note Latrobe's CATRA tests were done at 58RC instead of the more typical 59RC found in most knife steels. This steel has enough Vanadium and Chrome to be very than wear resistant at 58RC vs the more often found 59RC.

If you are looking for an alternative to Crucibles S30V, this may be it. It's not cheap steel but neither is S30V or the other super stainless steels.

The heat treat for this steel is fairly sophisticated as it relates to tempering. I would recommend using an RC hardness testoer during heat treat to adjust your Temper temperature accordingly. In other words, it depends on how hard you get it to determine what temperature to Temper it at. See the data sheets for specifics. It's not that hard to heat treat, you just have to test the RC before you select the Temper. This steel, like most of the stainless super steels, will respond well to Cryo treatment.

Latrobe data sheet on Dura Tech 20CV - click here.

Latrobe Heat Treating Practices - Good read. Click it here.

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