What is powder metallurgy, CPM 10V (A-11) and why is it better than High Speed Steels?
Powder metallurgy is a process where each element to make the steel is processed into a fine powder then mixed and pressed together then heated to produce a high grade alloy steel that could not be made in a conventional manor. CPM 10V (A-11) was made for the industral world, it is used for high wear applications in dies or centerless grinders for example. They have found the hardest and therefore the most abrasion resistant carbides typically found in tool steels are the vanadium carbides, this steel has 9.75% vanadium. M2 for example has less than 2% vanadium. Why is it better than HHS? In short, the process to make the steel and the vanadium content. Therefore the cost to produce this steel is 2-3 times higher than HHS.
