Abstract: Stainless steel wire of diameter smaller than 2 mm and with a tensile strength greater than 2100 MPa, consisting of a steel whose chemical composition includes, by weight: 0%.ltoreq.C.ltoreq.0.03%, 0%.ltoreq.Mn.ltoreq.2%, 0%.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5%, 8%.ltoreq.Ni.ltoreq.9%, 17%.ltoreq.Cr.ltoreq.18%, 0%.ltoreq.Mo.ltoreq.0.4%, 3%.ltoreq.Cu.ltoreq.3.5%, 0%.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.0.03%, S.ltoreq.0.01%, P.ltoreq.0.04%, the remainder being iron and impurities resulting from the production. Process of manufacture of the wire and uses.

Abstract: Steel, steel wire, and a process for forming a drawn wire, especially tire-reinforcing wire of diameter smaller than 0.4 mm, by drawing a steel of the following composition by weight: 0.005%.ltoreq.carbon.ltoreq.0.050%; 0.005%.ltoreq.nitrogen.ltoreq.0.050%; 0.1%.ltoreq.silicon.ltoreq.2.0%; 0.1%.ltoreq.manganese.ltoreq.5%; 5%.ltoreq.nickel.ltoreq.12%; 10%.ltoreq.chromium.ltoreq.20%; 0.01%.ltoreq.copper.ltoreq.4%; 0.01%.ltoreq.molybdenum.ltoreq.3%,the base wire being subjected to:drawing to a cumulative deformation ratio .epsilon. of larger than 2 and smaller than 4,an intermediate annealing treatment at above 700.degree. C.final drawing to a cumulative deformation ratio .epsilon. of smaller than 4.5 and larger than 3.