In order to improve certain properties of the steel and thus obtain some special properties in the smelting process intentionally added elements called alloying elements. Common alloying elements are chromium, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, titanium, niobium, zirconium, cobalt, silicon, manganese, aluminum, copper, boron, rare earth and so on. Phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, also play a role in the alloy under certain circumstances.

Vanadium and carbon, ammonia, oxygen has a strong affinity with the formation of the appropriate stable compound. Vanadium in steel mainly in the form of carbide present. Its main role is to organize and grain refinement of steel, reduce the strength and toughness of steel. When dissolved in solid solution at high temperature, increase hardenability; on the contrary, as to when carbides form, lower hardenability. Vanadium increase the stability of hardened steel tempering and secondary hardening effect. The vanadium content in steel containing, in addition to high-speed tool steel, generally not more than 0.5%.

Vanadium alloy steels in ordinary low-carbon energy grain refinement to improve the strength and yield ratio after normalizing and low temperature characteristics, improved weldability.

In general, Vanadium alloy structural steels due to the heat treatment conditions in general will reduce the hardenability, so the structural steel often used in conjunction with manganese, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten, and other elements. Vanadium in quenched and tempered steel is mainly to improve the strength of steel and the yield ratio, grain refinement, thermal sensitivity picked. Carburizing steel because it can refine the grain, steel can direct quenching after carburizing, without secondary hardening.

Vanadium spring steel and bearing steel can improve the strength and yield ratio, in particular to improve the proportional limit and the elastic limit, to reduce the sensitivity of the decarburization heat treatment to improve the surface quality. Five chrome vanadium bearing steel, carbide, high dispersion and good performance.

Vanadium tool steel grain refinement, reduce heat sensitivity, increased tempering stability and wear resistance, thereby extending the life of the tool.