Abstract: An improved method for producing barrels which need to operate at temperatures exceeding 800 degrees for prolonged periods of time. The method described is ideally suited for barrels which are a part of a crew served weapons, belt feed systems or other fully automatic weapons. My method has limited effect on the accuracy potential of the barrel produced and therefore should not be excluded from use on shoulder fired weapons and precision rifles.

Abstract: A method for making a strain aging resistant steel comprises adding boron to the steel, wherein substantially all of the boron in the steel forms boron nitride. A method for making steel comprises adding a nitride-forming element to the steel to lower the free nitrogen content of the steel to a free nitrogen content specification. A high-carbon steel contains boron nitride, wherein the free nitrogen content of the steel is less than 80 ppm. A strain aging resistant steel wherein the carbon content of the steel is between about 0.54 percent and about 0.75 percent.

Abstract: The surface of a pre-molded article made of SKH51 (Fe-based alloy) is coated with a powder of Al, Cr and the like. The coating may be performed by applying a coating agent which is prepared by dispersing the powder in an organic solvent. The coating agent may contain a reducing agent. After coating, the pre-molded article is subjected to heat treatment to form a carbonized product of the metal. The pre-molded article may be further treated with nitrogen, thereby forming a layered Fe-based alloy which has a diffusion layer which is formed by the diffusion of the carbonized product, a nitrided product and AIN in the base material. Subsequently, the article may be subjected to finishing process to give a punch having a predetermined shape for use in a hot-roll forging process.

Abstract: Low temperature carburization of a workpiece surface is accomplished faster by impregnating the surface with a diffusion promoter prior to or during the low temperature carburization process.

Abstract: A raw steel is coated with or surrounded by a boron compound (step S1). A coating film of h-BN is formed on the surface of the raw steel. Then, the raw steel is nitrided by a nitriding gas while being heated (step S2). B from the boron compound and N from the nitriding gas are diffused into the raw steel, turning the raw steel into a steel material containing B and N. Most of B and N are present as an Fe (B, N) solid solution or an Fe (C, B, N) solid solution in the structure of the steel material. The raw steel is heated and nitrided under conditions such that B and N are contained ranging from 7 to 30 ppm by weight and ranging from 10 to 70 ppm by weight, respectively.

Abstract: A body of iron, steel or other such ferrous material is protected from thermochemical erosion by a layer of an iron nitride having a relatively low nitrogen content. The atomic percentage of nitrogen in the iron nitride layer is no greater than 20%, and in specific embodiments is in the range of 10-15%. The nitride layer may have a layer of a refractory material deposited thereatop. Some refractory materials include metals such as chromium. The invention has specific utility for protecting gun barrels, turbines, internal combustion engines, drilling equipment, machine tools, aerospace systems and chemical reactors which are exposed to extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. Specifically disclosed is a gun barrel which incorporates the invention.

Abstract: A raw steel is coated with or surrounded by a boron compound (step S1). A coating film of h-BN is formed on the surface of the raw steel. Then, the raw steel is nitrided by a nitriding gas while being heated (step S2). B from the boron compound and N from the nitriding gas are diffused into the raw steel, turning the raw steel into a steel material containing B and N. Most of B and N are present as an Fe (B, N) solid solution or an Fe (C, B, N) solid solution in the structure of the steel material. The raw steel is heated and nitrided under conditions such that B and N are contained ranging from 7 to 30 ppm by weight and ranging from 10 to 70 ppm by weight, respectively.

Abstract: To provide a high strength and low yield ratio cold rolled steel sheet having high elongation property and high flange drawing property, or a plated steel sheet made by plating the same. The high strength and low yield ratio cold rolled steel sheet or the plated steel sheet made by plating the same has such a constitution as 0.10 to 0.25% of C, 1.0 to 2.0% of Si and 1.5 to 3.0% of Mn, are contained in terms of weight percentage, while other elements are controlled such as Al within 0.2%, P within 0.15% and S within 0.02%, with residual austenite occupying at least 5%, bainitic ferrite occupying at least 60% (preferably 80% or more), and polygonal ferrite within 20% (containing 0%), so that a tensile strength is 980 MPa or higher, while an elongation (El in %), a flange drawing property (?in %), a tensile strength (TS in MPa) and a yield strength (YP in MPa) satisfy the following inequality (1): [(El ×?×TS)/YP]?645.

Abstract: A process for heat treating metal workpieces contains with respect to an efficient process control the following successive operations following directly one after the other: a heating phase; an enrichment phase; a first cooling phase; a bonding phase; a second cooling phase; and a concluding quenching phase. Workpieces processed by a method of this type are distinguished by a comparatively great fatigue limit and fatigue strength with simultaneous high resistance to wear and tear.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-strength steel material capable of suppressing formation of blowholes during welding even if the strength thereof is improved by nitriding, and a method of manufacturing such a high-strength steel material by using a low rolling force. A high-strength steel of the present invention contains 0.05% (percent by mass unless otherwise specified in describing chemical composition) or below C, 1% or below Si, 1.5% or below Mn, 0.05% or below P, 0.05% or below S, 0.05% or below Al, 0.02 to 0.3% Ti, and 0.020% or below N. The high-strength steel material has metallographic structure of a single phase of ferrite and contains Ti nitride grains having a maximum size of 20 nm or below and coherently precipitated in a density of 250 grains/?m2 or above. In the high-strength steel material, the ratio of the number of Ti nitride grains having a maximum size of 6 nm or below to that of Ti nitride grains having a maximum size of 20 nm or below is 80% or above.

Abstract: The invention relates to case-hardening of a stainless steel article by means of gas including carbon and/or nitrogen, whereby carbon and/or nitrogen atoms diffuse through the surface into the article. The method includes activating the surface of the article, applying a top layer on the activated surface to prevent repassivation. The top layer includes metal which is catalytic to the decomposition of the gas.

Abstract: A material is shaped and sintered into a compact using iron-based alloy powder containing Cr; and a nitriding treatment having no carburizing action is conducted to the compact so that a surface of the compact may have a mixed structure 3 of an Fe—Cr—N compound layer 2, an Fe—Cr—N diffused layer, and a matrix.

Abstract: The invention relates to steel which is characterised by the following composition as expressed in percentages by weight:—C=0.18 0.30%, —Co=5-7%, —Cr=2-5%, —Al=1-2%, —Mo+W/2=1-4%, —V=trace 0.3%, —Nb=trace 0.1%, —B=trace?50 ppm, —Ni=10.5-15% with Ni?7+3.5 Al, —Si=trace 0.4%, —Mn=trace 0.4%, —Ca=trace?500 ppm, -Rare earths=trace?500 ppm, —Ti=trace?500 ppm, —O=trace?200 ppm if the steel is obtained by means of powder metallurgy or trace?50 ppm if the steel is produced in air or under a vacuum from molten metal, —N=trace?100 ppm, —S=trace?50 ppm, —Cu=trace?1%, and —P=trace?200 ppm, the remainder comprising iron and the inevitable impurities resulting from production. The invention also relates to a method of producing a part from said steel and to the part thus obtained.

Abstract: A conventional aluminum killed alloy steel for case hardening of gear(s) and/or shaft components consisting of 0.10 to 0.30 weight % Carbon, 0.15 to 0.35 weight % Silicon, 0.8 to 1.5 weight % Chromium, 0.6 to 1.5 weight % Manganese, 0.017 to 0.040 weight % Aluminum, and balance iron including impurities, produced by vacuum degassing and alike routes. Gear(s) and/or shaft components made by the above steel when treated by modified carbonitriding followed by hard shot peening process provide both superior bending fatigue strength and pitting fatigue life, capable of withstanding higher torque levels and speeds.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a medical device having a support structure made from alternating layers. One or more layers may be made by direct metal laser sintering. One or more layers may be made by introducing nitrogen into a previously formed layer via excimer laser nitriding.

Abstract: In the present invention, after a nitriding process is performed on a steel, a passivating process in which the steel is heated under an atmosphere containing oxygen is performed. The heating condition of the passivating process is within a range surrounded by (100° C., 120 min), (100° C., 10 min), (125° C., 5 min), (190° C., 5 min), (200° C., 10 min), (200° C., 20 min), (190° C., 30 min), (190° C., 40 min), (180° C., 60 min), and (180° C., 120 min) on coordinate axes of temperature and time. In the process for production of the nitrided steel, uniform passivated layer can be easily formed, and fatigue strength is improved as pitting corrosion resistance is improved.

Abstract: A nitridation treated stainless steel article (such as a bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell) having lower interfacial contact electrical resistance and better corrosion resistance than an untreated stainless steel article is disclosed. The treated stainless steel article has a surface layer including nitrogen-modified chromium-base oxide and precipitates of chromium nitride formed during nitridation wherein oxygen is present in the surface layer at a greater concentration than nitrogen. The surface layer may further include precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide. The surface layer in the treated article is chemically heterogeneous surface rather than a uniform or semi-uniform surface layer exclusively rich in chromium, titanium or aluminum.

Abstract: A hoop for a CVT belt including foreign matter existing in a nitrided hardened layer and surface of the hoop, the foreign matter comprises at least one of an oxide-type foreign matter, a nitride-type foreign matter, and a carbide-type foreign matter. The oxide-type foreign matter has a particle size of 25 ?m or less, the nitride-type foreign matter and/or the carbide-type foreign matter have particle sizes of 17 ?m or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a steel wire rod for hard-drawn springs capable of exhibiting fatigue strength and sag resistance equivalent to or higher than springs made of an oil-tempered wire. The steel wire rod contains carbon in a range from 0.5 to less than 0.7 mass %, silicon in a range from 1.4 to 2.5 mass %, manganese in a range from 0.5 to 1.5 mass %, chromium in a range from 0.05 to 2.0 mass %, and vanadium in a range from 0.05 to 0.40 mass %, and has an area ratio Rp with respect to pearlite which satisfies the mathematical expression (1): Rp(area %)?55×[C]+61??(1) where [C] denotes the content (mass %) of carbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to components made of steel, more particularly outer joint parts and inner joint parts of constant velocity joints, and to a process of heat treating such components made of steel. The heat treatment operation includes the process stages of nitriding, induction surface layer hardening and tempering, which processes follow one another. As a result of the nitriding operation, the joint parts are provided with a surface layer (15) including nitrides and a diffusion layer (18) positioned thereunderneath. The subsequent induction hardening process causes the diffusion layer (18) to be hardened, so that it comprises good supporting characteristics for supporting the surface layer (15) positioned above same.

Abstract: A roller bearing that provides ball and roller bearing elements comprised of M50 steel and M50NiL steel having surface hardnesses above 60 HRC, and in the range of 65-72 HRC. The hardness in the surface region is achieved by nitriding the surface to achieve a high hardness and extended life. This improvement is brought about by controlling the microstructure of the alloy by minimizing the formation of retained austenite. The material is tempered as required. The surface is then nitrided, but the nitriding operation is carefully controlled to avoid the formation of intergranular nitrides. Because of the method used to prevent the formation of intergranular nitrides, some carbon may be present to prevent the surface of the steel from becoming depleted of carbon. The hardening element in this nitro-carburizing operation is nitrogen, which forms iron nitride as Fe3N or Fe4N intragranularly.

Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid containing magnetorheological particles which are resistant to oxidation having regions rich in diffused nitrogen located therein and a method for producing such magnetorheological fluid.

Abstract: A screw compressor of which a female rotor is driven by a motor, and of which a male rotor is driven by the female rotor. The male or female rotor is composed of a member which is made of cast iron and is subjected to surface hardening treatment or heat treatment including quenching. The surface hardening treatment may include sulphonitriding or nitiriding treatment. In the case of subjecting the cast iron to the heat treatment, austemper treatment is applied.

Abstract: A high strength gear is provided which comprises a base metal of an iron-base alloy, the base metal being carburized or carbonitrided and having a tooth surface, and a coating containing Fe nitride and/or Fe carbonitride, formed on the tooth surface. A method of forming a high strength gear is also provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a steel material having a high fatigue strength and given a uniform residual stress by a rapid treatment. A marageing steel is subjected to a cold plastic working to have a predetermined dimension, to a solution treatment for 60 minutes or more at a temperature of 750 to 800° C., and to an aging.

Abstract: A maraging steel is subjected to the aging to have a hardness of more than 500 Hv. A nitrided case is formed to have a depth that is about 20% to 50% to a ½ thickness of the maraging steel plate. An endless ring for a metal belt is constructed by the above maraging steel. According to methods of manufacturing the maraging steel and the endless ring, the nitrided case having the depth that is 20% to 50% of a distance from a plate surface to a center can be formed by executing an aging to have the hardness of more than 500 Hv, then executing a nitriding in the nitrogen atmosphere to which organic chloride is added.

Abstract: A roller bearing that provides ball and roller bearing elements comprised of M50 steel and M50NiL steel having surface hardnesses above 60 HRC, and in the range of 65-72 HRC. The hardness in the surface region is achieved by nitriding the surface to achieve a high hardness and extended life. This improvement is brought about by controlling the microstructure of the alloy by minimizing the formation of retained austenite. The material is tempered as required. The surface is then nitrided, but the nitriding operation is carefully controlled to avoid the formation of intergranular nitrides. Because of the method used to prevent the formation of intergranular nitrides, some carbon may be present to prevent the surface of the steel from becoming depleted of carbon. The hardening element in this nitro-carburizing operation is nitrogen, which forms iron nitride as Fe3N or Fe4N intragranularly.

Abstract: A method for producing a formed member made of a steel sheet according to the present invention is characterized by preparing a steel sheet material having tensile strength of 500 MPa or less and containing a nitriding element; forming a formed member having a predetermined shape by performing a plastic forming on the steel sheet material; and performing a nitriding treatment on the formed member so that an average hardness in the sheet thickness direction of the resultant steel sheet member is Hv 300 or more by Vickers hardness, and further characterized in that the difference in hardness between the surface part and the inside center part in the thickness direction of the steel sheet member of the formed member is Hv 200 or less by Vickers hardness, thereby it is possible to reliably obtain a formed member having a sufficiently high strength after a nitriding treatment while ensuring a plastic formability of a steel sheet in obtaining a formed member made of a steel sheet member of high strength by performi

Abstract: A raw steel is coated with or surrounded by a boron compound (step S1). A coating film of h-BN is formed on the surface of the raw steel. Then, the raw steel is nitrided by a nitriding gas while being heated (step S2). B from the boron compound and N from the nitriding gas are diffused into the raw steel, turning the raw steel into a steel material containing B and N. Most of B and N are present as an Fe (B, N) solid solution or an Fe (C, B, N) solid solution in the structure of the steel material. The raw steel is heated and nitrided under conditions such that B and N are contained ranging from 7 to 30 ppm by weight and ranging from 10 to 70 ppm by weight, respectively.

Abstract: Steel alloys susceptible to case and core hardening comprise 0.05 to 0.24 wt % carbon; 15 to 28 wt % cobalt and 1.5 to 9.5 wt % in nickel, small percentages of one or more additives: chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium; and the balance iron. Carburized roll form and punch dies and tools made from case hardened steel alloys with a reduced hardness core provide high wear and fatigue resistance as well as improved contact and bending fatigue resistance thereby avoiding premature failure and extending the useful life of such tools.

Abstract: According to the method of the present invention, the ball plug is press fit into the counterbored passage of a fuel injector nozzle assembly prior to hardening of the fuel injector nozzle assembly. A core hardening and gas nitriding process is then applied to the assembly, causing the ball plug to expand and the passage diameter to shrink. This results in a greatly increased seal between the ball plug and the passage, and substantial elimination of the gaps experienced therebetween in prior art fuel injector nozzle assemblies.

Abstract: According to the method of the present invention, the ball plug is press fit into the counterbored passage of a fuel injector nozzle assembly prior to hardening of the fuel injector nozzle assembly. A core hardening and gas nitriding process is then applied to the assembly, causing the ball plug to expand and the passage diameter to shrink.

Abstract: A maraging steel strip or part and process for manufacture of a strip or of a part cut out of a strip of cold-rolled maraging steel and hardened by a hardening heat treatment. In the process, before the hardening heat treatment is performed, the strip or the part is subjected to cold plastic deformation with a degree of working greater than 30% and the strip or the part is subjected to recrystallization annealing in order to obtain a fine-grained structure with ASTM index higher than 8. The composition by weight of the maraging steel is: 12%≦Ni≦24.5%; 2.5%≦Mo≦12%; 4.17%≦Co≦20%, Al %≦0.15%; Ti≦0.1%; N≦0.003%; Si≦0.1%; Mn≦0.1%; C≦0.005%; S≦0.001%; P≦0.005%; H≦0.0003%; O≦0.001%; iron and impurities resulting from smelting, the chemical composition also satisfying the relationships: 20%≦Ni+Mo≦27%; 50≦Co×Mo≦200; Ti×N≦2×10−4.

Abstract: A laminated ring for use as a belt in transmitting power in a continuously variable transmission is produced by welding opposite ends of a sheet of maraging steel to produce a plurality of rings, and rolling said rings to a predetermined length. The rings are nitrided in a salt-bath nitriding process by dipping the rings in a molten salt containing 38-46% of CNO− and 1-2% of CN− and heated to a temperature in the range from 480 to 530° C., for a period of time ranging from 10 to 25 minutes. The nitrided rings are finally stacked into a laminated ring.

Abstract: A bearing is provided particularly suitable for a turbine and turbine related components used in the aerospace industry. More particularly, the bearing is suitable for such applications as pneumatic starters for turbines. The bearing is preferably constructed from a M50 steel, which typically has a pre-treated hardness in the range of approximately 60 to 64 Rc. With the present invention, the bearing is nitrided to obtain a case hardness of approximately 74 Rc. To achieve such a case hardness, the bearing may require nitriding over several days. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pneumatic starter includes a shaft, preferably constructed from M50, that has a portion of its outer surface nitrided. The nitrided surface functions as an inner race of a bearing assembly. Nitriding the portion of the shaft extends the bearing life of the bearing due to its increased hardness.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum, which comprises a sheet of maraging steel with welded opposite ends, is severed into a plurality of rings of predetermined width, and the rings are rolled to a predetermined length, after which circumferential lengths of the rings are corrected. The rings are aged by placing the rings into an aging chamber, heating the aging chamber to a predetermined aging temperature, and keeping the rings at the predetermined aging temperature for a predetermined period of time. Thereafter, the rings are nitrided by transferring the rings from the aging chamber into a nitriding chamber which is disposed independently of the aging chamber and has been heated to a predetermined nitriding temperature, while maintaining the rings at the aging temperature, keeping the rings at the nitriding temperature in an atmosphere containing at least an ammonia gas for a predetermined period of time, and cooling the rings.

Abstract: A stainless steel hydraulic component and method for making same hard turns a pre-heat treated stainless steel material, preferably a 400 series stainless steel material, provided in bar stock form in a single machining loading. Stainless steel hydraulic valve components made therefrom have shown improved leakage rate performance with the performance being fairly constant over a period of time for providing a longer functional life for the hydraulic valve component.

Abstract: A TRIP-type high strength steel plate having good workability is provided which, while reducing the amount of alloying elements added which increase the production cost, ensures a contemplated retained austenite structure, has good adhesion to zinc plating, and can also be applied to highly corrosion resistant surface treated steel plates. The high strength steel plate having improved workability and plating adhesion is such that a high concentration, i.e., 0.03 to 2.0% by weight, of nitrogen is incorporated, the contents of silicon and aluminum, which form nitride, are preferably regulated respectively to not more than 0.5% by weight and not more than 0.3% by weight, and, in addition, calcium, sodium, magnesium, etc. are optionally added to control the formation of iron nitride, whereby the volume fraction of the retained austenite phase in the metal structure is regulated to 3 to 20% by weight.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum is prepared by welding opposite ends of a thin sheet of maraging steel. A first solution treatment is effected on the cylindrical drum, and then the cylindrical drum is severed into a plurality of rings each having a predetermined width. After the rings are rolled, a second solution treatment is effected on the rings which have been rolled, and then the circumferential length of each of the rings is corrected. The rings are aged and nitrided, and then stacked into a laminated ring. The first solution treatment and the second solution treatment are effected using the same heating furnace in the same atmosphere in the same temperature range.

Abstract: Steel alloys susceptible to case and core hardening comprise 0.05 to 0.24 weight percent carbon; 15 to 28 weight percent cobalt and 1.5 to 9.5 weight percent in nickel, small percentages of one or more additives: chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium; and the balance iron. Blades for ice skating or other sports equipment made from such alloys provide predictable and reproducible characteristics and permit fabrication with hardened edges on a ductile, strong substrate or base.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing a nitrogen-silicon containing stainless steel layer on a metal. The method includes a pack cementation process involving the use of silicon nitride, silica and sodium fluoride as the source materials.

Abstract: During the treatment of electrical steel, a careful combination of heat treatment of the slab with a specific primary recrystallization and nitriding treatment allows for control of the distribution, quantity and dimensions of precipitates in order to obtain a homogeneous precipitation of nitrogen compounds by direct reaction of the absorbed nitrogen with aluminum during the nitriding step.

Abstract: A maraging steel strip or part and process for manufacture of a strip or of a part cut out of a strip of cold-rolled maraging steel and hardened by a hardening heat treatment. In the process, before the hardening heat treatment is performed, the strip or the part is subjected to cold plastic deformation with a degree of working greater than 30% and the strip or the part is subjected to recrystallization annealing in order to obtain a fine-grained structure with ASTM index higher than 8. The composition by weight of the maraging steel is: 12%≦Ni≦24.5%; 2.5%≦Mo≦12%; 4.17%≦Co≦20%, Al%≦0.15%; Ti≦0.1%; N≦0.003%; Si≦0.1%; Mn≦0.1%; C≦0.005%; S≦0.001%; P≦0.005%; H≦0.0003%; O≦0.001%; iron and impurities resulting from smelting, the chemical composition also satisfying the relationships: 20%≦Ni+Mo≦27%; 50≦Co×Mo≦200; Ti×N≦2×10−4.

Abstract: A non-heat treated soft-nitrided steel part respective contents of C, Si, Mn, P, Cr, Ti, V, N, Al, Pb, S and Ca of which are in specific ranges and which satisfies the following formulas (1) to (3). This part can be produced in a process of hot working, machining and soft-nitriding without any prior heat treatment, and has superior properties such as high fatigue strength and wear resistance. Fn1=−141.5(C %)−19.6(Mn %)+1280(N %)+95.6≦60  (1) Fn2=−103.8(C %)+59.1(Mn %)+850.4(N %)+360.9≧350  (2) Fn3=−13.4(C %)−3.45(Mn %)+112.7(N %)+13.

Abstract: In the production of grain-oriented electrical steel strip, the grain growth inhibition is controlled by balancing the copper, aluminum and carbonium content in order to control the type and quantity of precipitated second phases and obtain optimum grain dimensions during the decarburization annealing. This is done by using a continuous high-temperature thermal treatment in which nitrogen is diffused into the steel strip and aluminum is directly precipitated as aluminum nitride which controls the grain orientation of the final product.

Abstract: The production of grain-oriented electrical steel sheets is disclosed wherein grain growth in the steel is inhibited by a method comprising the regulation of the content of sulfur and manganese in the steel strp and the cold rolled strip is continuously nitrided at high temperature.

Abstract: A maraging steel is subjected to the aging to have a hardness of more than 500 Hv. A nitrided case is formed to have a depth that is about 20% to 50% to a ½ thickness of the maraging steel plate. An endless ring for a metal belt is constructed by the above maraging steel. According to methods of manufacturing the maraging steel and the endless ring, the nitrided case having the depth that is 20% to 50% of a distance from a plate surface to a center can be formed by executing an aging to have the hardness of more than 500 Hv, then executing a nitriding in the nitrogen atmosphere to which organic chloride is added.

Abstract: The present invention features nitriding-treating the ferrous material to form a nitrided layer composed of at least one of iron nitride and iron carbide nitride on the surface thereof, and heating to maintain the ferrous material at a temperature of 500 to 700° C. in a treating agent (A), whereby chromium is diffused into the nitrided layer to form a compound layer composed of at least one of chromium nitride and chromium carbide nitride, wherein the treating agent (A) contains the following (a) as a main component and containing the following (b) and (c): (a) at least one of alkali metal chloride and alkaline earth metal chloride; (b) glass having silicone oxide as a main component; and (c) chromium.

Abstract: A process for the production of grain oriented silicon steel sheet which provides an optimization of the production of conventional, grain oriented silicon steel strips, by the use of an appropriate synergistic combination of the composition levels of some elements and appropriate treatments which result in the control of the presence and type of inhibitors, and by so doing, controlling the primary-recrystallization grain size.

Abstract: In a method for producing maraging steel, a thin plate of maraging steel is subjected to an aging treatment, is then subjected to a fluoridation processing in which the thin plate is heated and maintained in a fluoric reacting gas including fluorine so as to form a fluoride layer on a surface of the thin plate, and is then subjected to nitriding in a nitriding reaction gas including ammonia gas so as to restrict the carbon concentration of the thin plate after the nitriding to 2 weight % or less.