HeatTreatBench · knife steel heat-treat recipes

CPM-154 Heat Treat Recipe

Stainless knife steel · target 60–62 HRC · austenitize 1950°F (1066°C)

platecryo
CategoryStainless
Austenitize (recommended)1950°F (1066°C)
Austenitize range1900–2000°F (1038–1093°C)
Preheat1400°F (760°C)
Soak at temperature30–45 min
QuenchPlate quench (aluminum plates); datasheet: oil or 4-bar gas to below 125°F
Cryo / sub-zeroRequired — dry ice or LN2 right after quench — KSN: do NOT assume the 1950°F recipe works without cryo (no-cryo peak is ~1900–1925°F)
Temper2× 2 h · cool to room temp between cycles
Reliable hardness59–62 HRC
PM version of 154CM — popular custom-knife stainless, easy grinding/polishing. KSN optimum: 1950°F / 30 min, plate quench + cryo, temper 300–450°F. Max-hardness route: 2025°F / 20 min + 300°F → ~64 HRC. Avoid tempering 800–1100°F (sensitization). Datasheet aim 55–62 HRC.

Temper → hardness chart

Approximate HRC after a double-temper at each temperature (from the sources below). Set your target and pick the matching temper.

Temper °FTemper °CHardness
300°F149°C62 HRC
350°F177°C61 HRC
400°F204°C60.5 HRC
450°F232°C60 HRC

Composition (typical, wt%)

Element%
C1.05%
Cr14%
Mo4%

Niagara / Crucible CPM 154 datasheet

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Sources

More Stainless steels

AEB-L1950°F · 61–64 HRC14C28N1950°F · 58–62 HRCNitro-V1900°F · 58–64 HRCMagnaCut2050°F · 59–63 HRCCPM-S30V1950°F · 58.5–60.5 HRCM3902050°F · 60–62 HRC