CPM10V – The High-Performance Tool Steel
Tool steels are highly specialized materials that are used in various industrial applications, where high wear resistance, toughness, and durability are required. Among the different types of tool steels, CPM10V or Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) 10V offers excellent performance and has gained significant popularity among designers, fabricators, and manufacturers.
CPM10V is a high-performance tool steel, which is classified as a powder metallurgy grade steel. This steel is produced using a unique manufacturing process, called CPM, which involves atomizing molten steel into small particles and then consolidating these particles into a solid piece under high pressure and temperature. The CPM process results in a steel with a uniform microstructure, high-density, and excellent toughness, hardness, and wear resistance.
The chemical composition of CPM10V is 9% vanadium, 10% cobalt, 3% chromium, 2% molybdenum, and 0.3% carbon. The high vanadium content contributes to the steel’s wear resistance and toughness, the cobalt content improves the steel’s red hardness, and the chromium and molybdenum contents enhance the steel’s corrosion resistance. The carbon content allows the steel to be hardened and increases its strength.
CPM10V is considered one of the toughest tool steels and is recommended for applications requiring intense shock resistance, such as punching and shearing operations, cold forming, and progressive dies. It is also widely used in the plastics and rubber industry for mold inserts, extrusion dies, and cutting tools. The steel’s high wear resistance and toughness make it a preferred choice for aerospace and defense applications, where tools need to withstand extreme conditions.
The mechanical properties of CPM10V are exceptional. It has a high hardness of up to 63 HRC, a high yield strength of up to 2500 MPa, and a high ultimate tensile strength of up to 2800 MPa. The steel’s toughness is also excellent, with an impact energy of up to 33J, which makes it easy to machine and grind.
CPM10V is available in various shapes, including bars, sheets, plates, and tubes. It is easy to machine but requires careful handling due to its high hardness and toughness. To achieve optimal results, the cutting tools must be sharp and have a high cooling rate.
In conclusion, CPM10V is a high-performance tool steel that offers excellent toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Its unique manufacturing process, chemical composition, and mechanical properties make it ideal for a wide range of industrial applications, including aerospace, defense, plastics, and mold making. With its exceptional properties, CPM10V has become the preferred choice for designers and manufacturers who demand high-performing tools that can withstand extreme conditions.