Abstract: A high-carbon steel wire has as steel composition: a carbon content ranging from 0.40 weight percent to 0.85 weight percent, a silicon content ranging from 1.0 weight percent to 2.0 weight percent, a manganese content ranging from 0.40 weight percent to 1.0 weight percent, and a chromium content ranging from 0.0 weight percent to 1.0 weight percent. The remainder is iron. This steel wire has as metallurgical structure a volume percentage of retained austenite ranging from 4 percent to 20 percent, while the remainder is tempered primary martensite and untempered secondary martensite. The steel wire is obtained by partitioning after quenching.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate for reinforcing elastomeric polymers whereby at least part of the substrate is made of steel, said part being covered by a layer of an alloy consisting of, apart from impurities, between 4.2 and 6.5% weight of aluminum, possibly less than 0.1% of at least one element stimulating the wetting ability of the liquid alloy to the substrate and the balance zinc.