Cold-formable chrome steel

Abstract

A cold-formable, corrosion-resistant chrome steel includes, by weight percent, 14% to 20% chromium, 0.005% to 0.05% carbon, up to 0.01% nitrogen, 0.2% to 0.6% silicon, 0.3% to 1.0% manganese, 0.1% to 1.0% molybdenum, up to 0.8% nickel, 0.2% to 1.0% copper, 0.15% to 0.65% sulfur, as well as separately or in combination 0.01% to 0.1% lead, 0.01% to 0.5% bismuth, 0.01% to 0.1% arsenic, 0.01% to 0.1% antimony, 0.005% to 0.08% of each of vanadium, titanium, niobium, and zirconium, 0.02% to 0.2% of each of selenium and tellurium, the remainder iron and incidental smelting-related impurities.

1 . A chrome steel alloy having a composition comprising, by weight percent,
 14% to 20% chromium,   0.005% to 0.05% carbon,   up to 0.01% nitrogen,   0.2% to 0.6% silicon,   0.3% to 1.0% manganese,   0.1% to 1.0% molybdenum,   up to 0.8% nickel,   0.2% to 1.0% copper,   0.02% to 0.2% selenium   0.15% to 0.65% sulfur,   0.01% to 0.1% arsenic,   0.005% to 0.08% vanadium,   and at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.01% to 0.1% lead, 0.01% to 0.5% bismuth, 0.01% to 0.1% antimony, 0.005% to 0.08% titanium, 0.005% to 0.08% niobium, 0.005% to 0.08% zirconium, up to 0.20% tellurium, and any combination thereof,   the remainder iron and incidental smelting-related impurities.   
   
   
       2 . The chrome steel alloy of  claim 1 , having, by weight percent,
 14% to 18% chromium,   0.01% to 0.03% carbon,   up to 0.01% nitrogen,   0.3% to 0.5% silicon,   0.4% to 0.7% manganese,   0.1% to 0.6% molybdenum,   up to 0.5% nickel,   0.2% to 0.6% copper,   0.02% to 0.2% selenium,   0.15% to 0.65% sulfur,   0.01% to 0.05% arsenic,   0.005% to 0.08% vanadium,   and at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.01% to 0.05% lead, 0.01% to 0.3% bismuth, 0.01% to 0.05% antimony, 0.005% to 0.08% titanium, 0.005% to 0.08% niobium, 0.005% to 0.08% zirconium, 0.01% to 0.2% tellurium, and any combination thereof,   the remainder iron and incidental smelting-related impurities.   
   
   
       3 . The chrome steel alloy of  claim 1 , satisfying the following condition
     K 1=(% Ti+% V+% Nb+% Zr)/% C=3 to 12.   
   
   
       4 . The chrome steel alloy of  claim 1 , satisfying the following condition
     K 2=(% S+3% Se+3% Te)/10(% C+% N)=1.5 to 3.5.   
   
   
       5 . The chrome steel alloy of  claim 1 , satisfying the following condition
     K 3=% S/(% S+% Se+% Te)=0.68 to 0.98.   
   
   
       6 . A method of using a chrome steel alloy according to  claim 1  for producing an article to be machined with a cutting tool. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cutting tool includes a micro-cutting tool. 
   
   
       8 . A method of using a chrome steel alloy according to  claim 1  for producing an article selected from the group consisting of printer nozzles, writing stylus, injection nozzles for chemical and electronic devices, spinnerets, and articles of small size with or without recesses. 
   
   
       9 . An article for industrial use having a feature size of 0.6 mm or less and being made from a chromium steel alloy having a composition according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       10 . A chrome steel alloy having a composition comprising, by weight percent,
 14% to 20% chromium,   0.005% to 0.05% carbon,   up to 0.01% nitrogen,   0.2% to 0.6% silicon,   0.3% to 1.0% manganese,   0.1% to 1.0% molybdenum,   up to 0.8% nickel,   0.2% to 1.0% copper,   0.02% to 0.2% selenium   0.15% to 0.65% sulfur,   0.01% to 0.1% arsenic,   0.005% to 0.08% vanadium,   0.01% to 0.1% antimony,   and at least one element selected from the group consisting of 0.01% to 0.1% lead, 0.01% to 0.5% bismuth, 0.005% to 0.08% titanium, 0.005% to 0.08% niobium, 0.005% to 0.08% zirconium, up to 0.20% tellurium, and any combination thereof,   the remainder iron and incidental smelting-related impurities.   
   
   
       11 . The chrome steel alloy of  claim 10 , having, by weight percent, 0.01% to 0.05% antimony.