Abstract: A steel obtained via the metallurgy of a high purity pre-alloyed, agglomerated and densified powder, the steel has the following weight composition: Manganese <1%, silicon <1%, chromium 4.50-6.45%, molybdenum 4-6%, vanadium 6.10-6.5%, tungsten 18.20-18.70%, sulfur <0.0020%, phosphorus .ltoreq.0.030%, oxygen .ltoreq.100 ppm, cobalt 5-7%, nitrogen 0.050-0.080%, .ltoreq.aluminum 0.020%, carbon 1.80-1.95%, balance iron and the impurities which are characteristic of producing steel. The steel has for the most part a dispersion of vanadium MC type carbides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing and/or removing inorganic matter from a material containing inorganic matter which comprises the steps of:(i) (a) treating the material with a source of hydrogen fluoride so as to form a first residue and a first solution containing inorganic matter;(b) separating the first residue from the first solution containing the inorganic matter;(c) treating the first residue with an acid so as to form a second residue and a second solution containing further inorganic matter; and(d) separating the second residue from the second solution containing the further inorganic matter; or(ii) (a) treating the material with an acid so as to form a first residue and a first solution containing inorganic matter;(b) separating the first residue from the first solution containing the inorganic matter;(c) treating the first residue with a source of hydrogen fluoride so as to form a second residue and a second solution containing further inorganic matter; and(d) separating the