Abstract: The invention relates to a steel wire suitable for making a spring or medical wire products which remarkably improve the performance of conventional stainless steel wire. The steel comprises (in wt. %): C: 0.02 to 0.15, Si: 0.1 to 0.9, Mn: 0.8 to 1.6, Cr 16 to 20, Ni: 7.5 to 10.5, Mo: ?3, Al: 0.5 to 2.5, Ti: ?0.15, N: ?0.05, optional elements, and impurities, balance Fe, wherein the total amount of Cr and Ni is 25 to 27 wt. %, and wherein the steel has a microstructure including, in volume % (vol. %), martensite: 40 to 90, austenite: 10 to 60, and delta ferrite: ?5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steel wire suitable for making a spring or medical wire products which remarkably improve the performance of conventional stainless steel wire. The steel comprises (in wt. %): C: 0.02 to 0.15, Si: 0.1 to 0.9, Mn: 0.8 to 1.6, Cr 16 to 20, Ni: 7.5 to 10.5, Mo: ?3, Al: 0.5 to 2.5, Ti: ?0.15, N: ?0.05, optional elements, and impurities, balance Fe, wherein the total amount of Cr and Ni is 25 to 27 wt. %, and wherein the steel has a microstructure including, in volume % (vol. %), martensite: 40 to 90, austenite: 10 to 60, and delta ferrite: ?5.

Abstract: A stainless steel spring with excellent corrosion resistance and fatigue strength is provided by performing: a process of drawing a steel wire at a specific degree of drawing ?, the steel wire containing, in percentage by mass, C in an amount of 0.08% or lower, Si in an amount of 0.3% to 2.0%, Mn in an amount of 3.0% or lower, Ni in an amount of 8.0% to 10.5%, Cr in an amount of 16.0% to 22.0%, Mo in an amount of 0.5% to 3.0%, and N in an amount of 0.15% to 0.23%, with a remainder being made up of Fe and impurities; a process of obtaining a coiled steel wire; a process of heat treatment at from 500° C. to 600° C., and from 20 minutes to 40 minutes; a process of nitriding to form a nitride layer having a thickness of from 40 ?m to 60 ?m on a surface of the steel wire; a process of shot peening; and a process of heat treatment.