Abstract: A steel (known as super bainite steel) containing between 90% and 50% bainite, the rest being austenite, in which excess carbon remains within the bainitic ferrite at a concentration beyond that consistent with equilibrium; there is also partial partitioning of carbon into the residual austenite. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the steel contains in weight percent: carbon 0.6 to 1.1%, silicon 1.5 to 2.0%, manganese 0.5 to 1.8, nickel up to 3%, chromium 1.0 to 1.5, molybdenum 0.2 to 0.5%, vanadium 0.1 to 0.2%, balance iron save for incidental impurities. Excellent properties are obtained if the manganese content is about 1% by weight.

Abstract: Super Bainite Steel is described comprising between 90% and 50% bainite, the rest being austenite, in which excess carbon remains within the bainitic ferrite at a concentration beyond that consistent with equilibrium; there is also partial partitioning of carbon into the residual austenite. Such bainite steel has very fine bainite platelets (thickness 100 nm or less). In this specification the expression “Super Bainite Steel” is used for such steel. In particular, the impact of varying the manganese content to achieve fast transformation times, and hence low manufacturing costs without the presence of expensive alloying materials is discussed. In one embodiment of the invention a Super Bainite Steel comprises in weight percent: carbon 0.6 to 1.1%, silicon 1.5 to 2.0%, manganese 0.5 to 1.8%, nickel up to 3%, chromium 1.0 to 1.5%, molybdenum 0.2 to 0.5%, vanadium 0.1 to 0.2%, balance iron save for incidental impurities.