Abstract: Stainless steels for springs having a high strength and an excellent fatigue resistance are produced by heat treating austenitic stainless steels having such a composition that austenite stability index, Md.sub.30. is 0.degree. C. to +80.degree. C. at a final annealing temperature of 750.degree.-1,150.degree. C., subjecting the thus treated steels to a primary working at a temperature from Md.sub.30 to 500.degree. C. at a reduction rate of not less than 20% and then subjecting said steels to a secondary working at a temperature lower than Md.sub.30 at a reduction rate of not less than 30%.

Abstract: Martensitic stainless steel having excellent weldability and workability for structural use is obtained by limiting each content of carbon and nitrogen to the low value less than 0.02% and the content of nickel to less than 0.1% and by satisfying the following requirement.Cr equivalent=[%Cr]+0.4.times.[%Si]-0.4.times.[%Mn]-0.7.times.[%Ni]-0.6.times .[%Cu]-35.times.[%C]-10.times.[%N].ltoreq.10.5,wherein % means weight % of the element in steel.

Abstract: A pretreatment of cold-rolled steel sheet for annealing so as to suppress graphite formation on the surface thereof and nitrogenization during the annealing for recrystallization, by causing an effective amount of sulfur, aluminum, tin, arsenic, lead, antimony, bismuth, selenium, and/or tellurium to exist on the steel sheet surface.

Abstract: A pretreatment of cold-rolled steel sheet for annealing so as to suppress graphite formation on the surface thereof and nitrogenization during the annealing for recrystallization, by causing an effective amount of sulfur, aluminum, tin, arsenic, lead, antimony, bismuth, selenium, and/or tellurium to exist on the steel sheet surface.

Abstract: Hot-rolled low-carbon steel strip with an excellent press-workability capable of forming a smooth pressed surface consisting essentially of up to 0.12 wt. % carbon, up to 0.01 wt. % nitrogen, up to 0.0094 wt. % boron, and other specific optional ingredients, the B(%)/N(%) ratio being 0.3 to 0.94. The micrograin size number, JIS, of ferrite in the steel strip as hot-rolled is 7 to 9. The steel strip is made by hot-rolling while controlling the temperatures at the entry and delivery ends of a hot-strip finishing mill.