摘要 |
The present invention provides a spring steel, which is finally formed into a spring, by making use of, at a maximum, the temper softening resistance effect due to alloying elements while suppressing the formation of hard inclusions of SiO 2 and the generation of decarburization, which may cause deterioration of fatigue characteristics of the spring. The spring steel is characterized by comprising, in % by mass, C: 0.50 to 0.70%, Si: 1.00 to 5.00%, Mn: 0.30 to 2.00%, P: 0.0002 to 0.0500%, S: 0.0002 to 0.0500%, Cr: 0.10 to 3.50%, Al: 0.0005 to 0.0500%, and N: 0.0020 to 0.0100%, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein the H-value defined by the following equation (a) is 160 or more, and the C-value defined by the following equation (b) is 3.25 or less: H = 33.6 C + 10.0 Si + 5.95 Mn + 11.1 Cr + 90.0 and C = Si / Mn |