CrMoV - Chrome-Moly-Vanadium
CrMoV (Chromium‑Molybdenum‑Vanadium) steel is a high‑performance alloy known for its exceptional strength, toughness, and resistance to heat and wear. By combining chromium for corrosion and oxidation resistance, molybdenum for high‑temperature strength, and vanadium for grain refinement and durability, CrMoV alloys deliver outstanding stability under extreme mechanical and thermal stress. These properties make CrMoV steels ideal for demanding applications such as power‑generation components, pressure vessels, turbine parts, high‑temperature tooling, and other critical industrial systems that require long‑term reliability in harsh environments.
- Inventory & Specs
- Chemical Composition
- Physical Properties
- Mechanical Properties
- Datasheet
- Additional Info
- FAQs
Inventory Size Ranges for CrMoV
| Type | Thickness | Get a Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Bar | 4.000" - 27.750" | Get a Quote |
Characteristics of CrMoV
CrMoV maintains its mechanical strength even under prolonged exposure to high heat. This alloy has excellent creep resistance, making it useful for turbine components, rotors, and high-temperature pressure parts. The vanadium in this alloy promotes fine grain structure, which improves its surface hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue strength. Even when hardened, the chromium in this alloy boosts its resistance to oxidation at high temperatures, general corrosion, and scaling in hostile atmospheres. Additionally, the combination of Mo and V increases its depth hardening, making CrMoV suitable for large, thick components and heat-treatable parts that require uniform properties. CrMoV tolerates rapid temperature changes and high thermal cycling, making it a popular choice for forging dies, hot-working tooling, and high-temperature machinery.
Working with CrMoV
CrMoV is machinable in the annealed condition but is more difficult that plain carbon steels. Welding this alloy requires strict thermal control because the alloy is prone to hardness buildup and cracking without proper preparation. Critical steps when welding include preheating, maintaining interpass temperatures, and post-weld heat treating. The steps for heat treating this alloy include annealing, which softens the steel for machining, hardening, tempering, and stress relieving. The vanadium in this alloy promotes fine grain size, which improves toughness and hardenability but increases heat treatment sensitivity. Some of the advantages of working with CrMoV include its high elevated temperature strength, stable microstructure under long-term heat, resistance to softening, good wear and fatigue resistance, and its excellent toughness after proper heat treatment.
Other industry standards we comply with:
- B50A179B3
- B50A164B2
- B5F5B31
- B50A249
- B50391B
Common Trade Names
Industry Applications for CrMoV
- Steam turbines
- Valve casings
- Cast materials
- Boilers and pressure vessels
- Drills
- Connecting rods
- Gear wheels
- Power generation
- Petrochemical industry
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Carbon | 0.17 | 0.25 |
| Si | Silicon | ≤ 0.40 | - |
| Mn | Manganese | 0.40 | 0.80 |
| P | Phosphorus | ≤ 0.030 | - |
| S | Sulfur | ≤ 0.030 | - |
| Al | Aluminum | ≤ 0.030 | - |
| Cr | Chromium | 1.20 | 1.50 |
| Mo | Molybdenum | 0.55 | 0.80 |
| Ni | Nickel | - | 0.60 |
| V | Vanadium | 0.20 | 0.35 |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 0.282 lb/in3 |
Mechanical Properties
- Modulus of Elasticity: 29,000 ksi
- Melting Process: Electric Arc
- Forming Process: Hot Rolled or Forged
Datasheet
Additional Info
A Brief History of CrMoV
CrMoV steel trace its origins to the broader family of chromium‑molybdenum (Cr‑Mo) steels, which were first developed in the early 20th century as metallurgists began alloying chromium and molybdenum to improve high‑temperature strength and corrosion resistance. These early Cr‑Mo steels became essential in pressure vessels and high‑temperature industrial components during the rapid industrial expansion of the mid‑1900s. The addition of vanadium (V) represented a significant leap forward: it improved grain refinement, strength, and creep resistance, enabling the creation of modern CrMoV alloys used in power generation and petrochemical environments.
How CrMoV was Developed
CrMoV was developed as an advancement of existing Cr‑Mo steels to meet rising industrial demands for materials capable of withstanding higher pressures, higher temperatures, and longer service life. By the mid-20th century, high-temperature engineering requirements grew. It was during this time that metallurgists introduced vanadium to the existing Cr-Mo, which refined its grain structure, increased strength, and improved its long-term stability at elevated temperatures. By the 1970s, commercial CrMoV was created for use in power-plant fasteners and turbine materials.
Early Applications of CrMoV
Early CrMoV was used for high-temperature, high-pressure industrial components where creep resistance and toughness were essential. Early applications included steam turbines, power generation equipment, pressure vessels, boilers, and heat exchangers. These early uses cemented CrMoV's role as a critical material for industrial systems that demanded reliability under extreme conditions.
How CrMoV is Used Today
Today, CrMoV is widely used across energy, aerospace, petrochemical, heavy manufacturing, and high‑temperature tooling sectors due to its strength, creep resistance, and thermal stability. Modern applications include: steam and gas turbines, nuclear and fossil-fuel power plant components, reactors, boilers, high-temperature piping, fasteners, heavy rotating machinery, gear wheels, and aerospace components that require durability, fatigue resistance, and high-temperature strength.
Your Trusted Supplier of CrMoV
United Performance Metals offers CrMoV bar sizes 4.000" - 27.750". This product is primarily used in the power generation and alternative energy industries.
Product FAQs
The key difference is the addition of vanadium, which refines grain structure, improves wear resistance, and enhances strength, especially at elevated temperatures. This allows CrMoV to outperform CrMo steels in demanding heat and stress environments.
CrMoV can be welded but requires preheat control, as well as controlled interpass temperatures and post-weld heat treatment. These steps reduce residual stresses and temper hard microstructures formed during welding.
CrMoV requires careful heat treatment and is susceptible to certain types of stress corrosion cracking depending on its environments.