Hot-forming steel alloy

Abstract

A hot-forming steel alloy comprising, in addition to iron and impurity elements, carbon, silicon, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and nitrogen within the concentration ranges set forth in the claims. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1 . A hot-forming steel alloy, wherein the alloy comprises, in addition to iron and impurity elements, the following elements in % by weight, based on a total weight of the alloy:
 Carbon (C) from about 0.35 to about 0.42   Silicon (Si) from about 0.15 to about 0.29   Manganese (Mn) from about 0.40 to about 0.70   Chromium (Cr) from about 4.70 to about 5.45   Molybdenum (Mo) from about 1.50 to about 1.95   Vanadium (V) from about 0.40 to about 0.75   Nitrogen (N) from about 0.011 to about 0.016.   
   
   
       2 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein maximum concentrations of one or more impurity elements in % by weight, based on a total weight of the alloy, are:
 Phosphorus (P) not more than about 0.005   Sulfur (S) not more than about 0.003   Nickel (Ni) not more than about 0.10   Tungsten (W) not more than about 0.10   Copper (Cu) not more than about 0.10   Cobalt (Co) not more than about 0.10   Titanium (Ti) not more than about 0.008   Niobium (Nb) not more than about 0.03   Oxygen (O) not more than about 0.003   Boron (B) not more than about 0.001   Arsenic (As) not more than about 0.01   Tin (Sn) not more than about 0.0025   Antimony (Sb) not more than about 0.01   Zinc (Zn) not more than about 0.001   Calcium (Ca) not more than about 0.0002   Magnesium (Mg) not more than about 0.0002.   
   
   
       3 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.37% to about 0.40% by weight of C. 
   
   
       4 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.16% to about 0.28% by weight of Si. 
   
   
       5 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.18% to about 0.25% by weight of Si. 
   
   
       6 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.45% to about 0.60% by weight of Mn. 
   
   
       7 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.50% to about 0.58% by weight of Mn. 
   
   
       8 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 4.80% to about 5.20% by weight of Cr. 
   
   
       9 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 4.90% to about 5.10% by weight of Cr. 
   
   
       10 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 1.55% to about 1.90% by weight of Mo. 
   
   
       11 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 1.65% to about 1.80% by weight of Mo. 
   
   
       12 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.45% to about 0.70% by weight of V. 
   
   
       13 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.52% to about 0.60% by weight of V. 
   
   
       14 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 0.012% to about 0.015% by weight of N. 
   
   
       15 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises, in % by weight:
 Carbon (C) from about 0.37 to about 0.40   Silicon (Si) from about 0.16 to about 0.28   Manganese (Mn) from about 0.45 to about 0.60   Chromium (Cr) from about 4.80 to about 5.20   Molybdenum (Mo) from about 1.55 to about 1.90   Vanadium (V) from about 0.45 to about 0.70   Nitrogen (N) from about 0.012 to about 0.015.   
   
   
       16 . The alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises, in % by weight:
 Carbon (C) from about 0.37 to about 0.40   Silicon (Si) from about 0.18 to about 0.25   Manganese (Mn) from about 0.50 to about 0.58   Chromium (Cr) from about 4.90 to about 5.10   Molybdenum (Mo) from about 1.65 to about 1.80   Vanadium (V) from about 0.52 to about 0.60   Nitrogen (N) from about 0.012 to about 0.015.   
   
   
       17 . The alloy of  claim 15 , wherein maximum concentrations of one or more impurity elements in % by weight, based on a total weight of the alloy, are:
 Phosphorus (P) not more than about 0.005   Sulfur (S) not more than about 0.003   Nickel (Ni) not more than about 0.10   Tungsten (W) not more than about 0.10   Copper (Cu) not more than about 0.10   Cobalt (Co) not more than about 0.10   Titanium (Ti) not more than about 0.008   Niobium (Nb) not more than about 0.03   Oxygen (O) not more than about 0.003   Boron (B) not more than about 0.001   Arsenic (As) not more than about 0.01   Tin (Sn) not more than about 0.0025   Antimony (Sb) not more than about 0.01   Zinc (Zn) not more than about 0.001   Calcium (Ca) not more than about 0.0002   Magnesium (Mg) not more than about 0.0002.   
   
   
       18 . The alloy of  claim 16 , wherein maximum concentrations of one or more impurity elements in % by weight, based on a total weight of the alloy, are:
 Phosphorus (P) not more than about 0.005   Sulfur (S) not more than about 0.003   Nickel (Ni) not more than about 0.10   Tungsten (W) not more than about 0.10   Copper (Cu) not more than about 0.10   Cobalt (Co) not more than about 0.10   Titanium (Ti) not more than about 0.008   Niobium (Nb) not more than about 0.03   Oxygen (O) not more than about 0.003   Boron (B) not more than about 0.001   Arsenic (As) not more than about 0.01   Tin (Sn) not more than about 0.0025   Antimony (Sb) not more than about 0.01   Zinc (Zn) not more than about 0.001   Calcium (Ca) not more than about 0.0002   Magnesium (Mg) not more than about 0.0002.   
   
   
       19 . A part which comprises the alloy of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       20 . The part of  claim 19 , wherein the part is selected from die-casting dies, extruders, and parts thereof.