Abstract: A sulfur-containing free-cutting steel for machine structural use, containing, in weight percent, 0.10 to 0.55% of C, 0.05 to 1.00% of Si, 0.30 to 2.50% of Mn, not more than 0.15% of P, 0.050 to 0.350% of S, more than 0.010% but not more than 0.020% of Al, 0.015 to 0.200% of Nb, 0.0015 to 0.0150% of O, and not more than 0.02% of N, and further containing, in weight percent, at least one selected from the group consisting of 0.03 to 0.50% of V, 0.02 to 0.20% of Ti and 0.01 to 0.20% of Zr, wherein the ratio S/O of the S content to the O content is 15 to 120, and at least one selected from the group consisting of an oxide, a carbide, a nitride and a carbonitride of Nb(see FIG. 1) acts as nuclei for precipitation of MnS type inclusions.

Abstract: A high-sulfur free-cutting steel which has a chemical composition containing, in mass %, 0.03 to 0.20% C, 0.35% or less Si (including 0%), 0.30 to 2.00% Mn, 0.01 to 0.15% P, 0.35 to 0.65% S 0.0100 to 0.0250% O, 0.020% or less N, 0.005% or less Al (including 0%), 0.02 to 0.20% Nb, and further containing 0.05 to 0.50% V or 0.02 to 0.20% Ti, or both, with the remainder consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein sulfide type inclusions, as the principal nonmetallic inclusions contained in the steel, have a mean size of 50 &mgr;m2 or less and are present at the rate of 500 to 1000 inclusions per mm2 in the cross section of the steel. The sulfur-containing free-cutting steel has a good machinability comparable or superior to that of free-cutting steels containing heavy metals which have a deleterious effect on the environment, without requiring the addition of such undesirable heavy metals.