M398 MICROCLEAN is a corrosion-resistant martensitic chromium steel produced by powder metallurgy

M398 is a stainless steel alloy with higher wear resistance than M390. Compared to M390, M398 contains more carbon, vanadium and slightly more tungsten. This steel has exceptional edge retention and may offer the best usable edge resistance of any stainless steel alloy. The hardness after hardening reaches up to 64 HRC with under-hardening, which is exceptional hardness for a stainless steel. The trade-off is reduced toughness and poorer machinability.