What is Nitro V steel?

Nitro-V steel is a martensitic stainless steel with high chromium percentage and nitrogen in its alloy composition. Nitro V is a relatively new stainless steel introduced on the market in 2017 by New Jersey Steel Baron. It is an improved version of AEB-L, with added nitrogen and vanadium to get high hardness, better edge retention, and outstanding corrosion resistance.

Because of its properties, Nitro-V is the go-to steel for making thin blades like those used to make knives and razor blades.

It makes the best diving knives because the edges remain razor sharp for long and it is not susceptible to rusting.

Knifemakers and users swear by Nitro-V stainless steel knives because they attain a razor-sharp edge faster, maintain sharpness for long, and they do not rust.

Best Nitro- V steel Knife

 

CIVIVI Altus Pocket Folding Knife

Looking for a great everyday pocket knife? Check out the CIVIVI Altus Pocket Folding Knife. Made with a Nitro-V steel blade, it’s tough and has excellent corrosion resistance. The razor-sharp cutting performance will make quick work of whatever you need to cut.

Plus, the skeletonized handle design without compromising strength makes this pocket knife both lightweight and durable. The reversible clip allows for discreet carry, making it perfect for outdoor hunting, hiking, camping, bush crafting, and more.

Most Popular Nitro V Knifes

Nitro V Steel Composition

The following table shows the chemical composition of Nitro V stainless steel.

Element	Content (%)
Carbon C	0.68%
Chromium Cr	13.00%
Nitrogen N	0.11%
Vanadium	0.08%
Silicon Si	0.38%
Manganese Mn	0.78%
Phosphorus P	0.02%

• Carbon C: Increases the edge retention, hardness and tensile strength. It also improves steel resistance to wear, abrasion and corrosion.
• Chromium Cr: Formation of Chromium carbides Increases hardness, tensile strength and toughness of the blade.
• Nitrogen N : Increases hardness and corrosion resistance and hardness.
• Manganese Mn : improves the strength and hardness of steel. When the steel is heat-treated, hardenability is improved with increased manganese.
• Vanadium V : Increase wear resistance and toughness, it also improves corrosion resistance. High vanadium content enables formation of Vanadium Carbides.
• Silicon Si : Improves grain structure for better hardness, however like Manganese it can increase brittleness.

Properties of Nitro V steel

Nitro-V Steel Hardness

The hardness of Nitro-V is 58-62HRC. It has a wide hardness variance because the end product depends on the heat treatment used by the manufacturer. Because of the hardness level of this steel, it can be cut into very thin blades, perfect for making slicing knives.

Nitro-V Steel Toughness

Nitro-V stainless steel offers great toughness compared to other steels in the same category, which is against the expectations of many because most hard steels have poor toughness. It beats most premium steels like M390, CPM 154, and S35VN.

The balance between hardness and toughness makes it a favorite of many. Therefore, if you are searching for knives that can withstand tough applications, look into the varieties of Nitro-V steel knives.

Is Nitro-V steel as strong as Super knife steel? You be the judge.

Nitro-V Steel Edge retention

Being an improvement of AEB-L, Nitro V stainless steel is expected to offer better edge retention. However, both steels contain the exact amounts of carbides; hence they provide the same level of edge retention. The edge retention is lower compared to other high-end stainless steel.

This is not to say that NitroV steel offers bad edge retention. It will serve you for a long time before becoming dull. Its edge retention can be compared to that of 52100 steel, this is a bit low compared to steel like 440C and Crucible powder steels.

Nitro-V Steel Corrosion resistance

Nitro V is martensitic stainless steel with high chromium percentage and nitrogen in its alloy composition, Nitro-V stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance. The blades of Nitro-V do not rust when used in salty water, and that is why it is perfect steel in making diving knives.

Although Nitro-V stainless steel does not rust easily, it is advisable to wash and dry the knives after use and before storage to keep rust and stains at bay.

Nitro-V Steel Wear resistance

Nitro-V steel has decent wear resistance, thanks to the improved alloy. Although it is not the best in wear resistance out there, you can be assured that knives made from this steel will not bend or deform on tough applications.

However, if you are using a knife with a very thin Nitro V stainless steel blade, do not expose it to very challenging tasks. You will be setting it up for failure. If it is a slicing knife, use it for slicing only, and it will serve you for a very long time.

Sharpening Nitro-V Steel

You would expect Nitro-V steel to be challenging to sharpen because it is hard steel, but this is not the case, the hardness does not make it challenging to sharpen. If you are learning sharpening skills, this is good steel to practice with because it does not require a lot of time or effort to get a razor-sharp edge. Make sure to read our guide on sharpness and cutting like a pro.

Nitro V steel Comparison

Nitro V equivalent: AEB-L and 14C28N

Nitro V steel is an iteration of AEB-L steel. AEB-L steel is Nitro V equivalent only that Nitro Steel has added Vanadium and Nitrogen to improve corrosion resistance. The addition of these elements enables Nitro V to get a sharp edge quicker but not for long as the added Vanadium is not enough to start forming hard carbides for better edge retention.

Then again 14C28N steel can also be considered Nitro V equivalent only that 14C28N has more vanadium elements. The addition of more Vanadium elements enables the formation of hard carbides that gives 14C28N a better edge retention. In terms of wear resistance they are almost identical, their performance in other sectors only differs by slight percentages.

	Nitro V Steel	14C28N Steel
Toughness	7.5	9
Edge Retention	3	3
Corrosion Resistance	7	8.5

Nitro V steel vs S35VN

S35VN steel is better steel overall than Nitro-V steel for fixed and folding blades. Nitro-V is tougher than S35VN, it doesn’t hold an edge as well as S35VN despite the fact that they offer almost similar hardness of 61HRC. S35VN offers better wear resistance than Nitro-V due to the higher amounts of vanadium, nitrogen, and chromium that aid in the formation of hard carbides.

Despite the fact that S35VN holds an edge longer, with advanced sharpening Nitro V steel can be much sharper, however, it won’t hold it for long and will require frequent sharpening. At its thinnest Nitro V blade steel is extremely sharp and it is for this reason that it is used in making razor blades.

In terms of corrosion resistance, they offer almost identical performance but S35VN slightly beats Nitro V due to a more refined alloy and powder metallurgy production process that enables a more superior combination.

Properties	Nitro V Steel	S35VN Steel
Toughness	7.5	5
Edge Retention	3	5
Corrosion Resistance	7	7.5

Nitro V Steel vs D2

Properties	Nitro V Steel	D2 Steel
Toughness	7.5	3.5
Edge Retention	3	5
Corrosion Resistance	7	4.5

Nitro V steel is stainless steel with 13% chromium content while D2 is semi-stainless steel with 11.5% chromium content. Nitro V blade steel thus offers better corrosion resistance than D2 blade steel.

D2 steel has higher carbon content at 1.6% compared to Nitro-V stainless steel’s 0.68%. This carbon content gives it higher Rockwell hardness and wear resistance while improving its edge retention.

Nitro V stainless steel is likely to withstand high-impact applications without cracking and chipping while D2 on the other hand is more susceptible to cracking and chipping on tough applications.

Nitro-V steel vs S30V

Properties	Nitro V Steel	S30V Steel
Toughness	7.5	4
Edge Retention	3	6
Corrosion Resistance	7	7.5

Just like S35VN, S30V forms hard carbides that give it an all-around good performance in terms of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance over Nitro V knife steel. Nitro V beats S30V in ease of sharpness and may even beat S30V in sharpness if sharpened to perfection. In terms of corrosion resistance, S30V takes a slight win over Nitro V.

Nitro V is tougher steel than S30V and most other mid-range and premium steel like S90V. Nitro V toughness can be bettered by a few steels like AEB-L, LC200N, and 19C27.

Nitro-V vs CPM 3V

Nitro-V is stainless steel with great corrosion resistance due to the added nitrogen, but 3V is not stainless steel and will rust when used in corrosive environments. Nitro-V offers great edge retention and wear resistance. It is also easier to get a super sharp edge with Nitro V. On the other hand, 3V shines in toughness.

Properties	Nitro V Steel	CPM 3V Steel
Toughness	7.5	9
Edge Retention	3	4.5
Corrosion Resistance	7	5.5

Nitro-V vs M390

M390 is premium steel, while Nitro-V belongs to the high-end category. You can already tell that M390 is better than Nitro-V stainless steel. It offers excellent edge retention among the best in the market, outstanding wear resistance, and better corrosion resistance with about 20% chromium. Nitro V however beats M390 on toughness and ease of sharpening.

M390 tends to be rare and is found in top dollar knives, it is great for knives that won’t require frequent sharpening and knives that are to be used in corrosive environments.

Properties	Nitro V Steel	M390 Steel
Toughness	7.5	3.5
Edge Retention	3	6.5
Corrosion Resistance	7	9