9Cr18, 9Cr18Mo and 9Cr18MoV Martensitic Stainless Steel
Martensitic stainless steel is typically used for high strength applications, including components and parts which require a high level of wear-resistance. Martensitic stainless steel alloys are used for a wide range of applications, including cutlery and hand tools, turbine blades, pumps, bearings and aerospace components. 9Cr18, 9Cr18Mo and 9Cr18MoV are three of the most common martensitic stainless steel grades available in the market. In this article, we will examine the properties and advantages of each grade, as well as their trade-offs.
9Cr18. 9Cr18 is a common martensitic stainless steel grade. It is composed of 9% chromium, 0.3% carbon and 18% nickel. It is known for its high level of corrosion resistance and good strength. 9Cr18 has excellent wear resistance, making it an ideal material for cutting blades and other components that require a high degree of wear-resistance. In terms of machinability, 9Cr18 is quite good, but it does require special tooling due to its high hardness.
9Cr18Mo. 9Cr18Mo is an alloy of martensitic stainless steel. It is composed of 9% chromium, 0.3% carbon, 18% nickel and 1.2% molybdenum. 9Cr18Mo has similar strength and wear-resistance compared to 9Cr18; however, it has a higher level of corrosion-resistance due to the addition of molybdenum. This makes 9Cr18Mo an ideal material for components used in marine applications and other environments with high levels of corrosive compounds. 9Cr18Mo is also easy to machine as it is not as hard as 9Cr18.
9Cr18MoV. 9Cr18MoV is a martensitic stainless steel alloy with a composition of 9% chromium, 0.3% carbon, 18% nickel, 1.2% molybdenum and 0.5% vanadium. 9Cr18MoV has the highest corrosion-resistance among the three grades and is also the hardest. It is known for its ability to maintain its strength and hardness at higher temperatures, making it ideal for heat-treated components. 9Cr18MoV is more challenging to machine than 9Cr18Mo due to its higher hardness; as a result, it is often forged into its final shape, rather than machined.
Conclusion:
All three grades of martensitic stainless steel, 9Cr18, 9Cr18Mo and 9Cr18MoV, offer unique advantages for various applications. 9Cr18 is known for its good strength, wear-resistance and relatively good machinability. 9Cr18Mo is similar to 9Cr18, but has improved corrosion-resistance thanks to the addition of molybdenum. 9Cr18MoV is the most corrosion-resistant, and is also the hardest. It is ideal for heat-treated components and applications, but is more challenging to machine due to its higher hardness.