Lead free steel

A steel product, wherein the steel product comprises:

• a steel composition comprising:
• carbon in a range of 0.2 to 0.6 wt-%;
• manganese in a range of 0.6 to 1.1 wt-%;
• silicon in a range of 0.1 to 0.4 wt-%;
• chromium in a range of 0.6 to 1.2 wt-%;
• molybdenum in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 wt-%;
• sulfur in a range of 0.065 to 0.090 wt-%;
• and
• a balance being Fe and normally occurring scrap steel impurities, including lead of 0.05 wt-% max;
• wherein a microstructure of the steel product comprises lamellar pearlite;
• wherein the steel product is subjected to a heat treatment process during which the steel product is subjected to:
• a first temperature for a first duration, wherein the first temperature ranges between 1425-1800 degrees F. and the first duration ranges from 15 mins to 5.75 hours, and wherein at the first temperature the steel product is in an austenitic phase;
• a second temperature for a second duration, wherein the second temperature is less than the first temperature, wherein the second temperature ranges between 1000-1300 degrees F. and the second duration ranges from 1 to 85 mins, and wherein at the second temperature the steel product is in a pearlitic/ferritic phase;
• and
• a third temperature for a third duration, wherein the third temperature is greater than the second temperature, wherein the third temperature ranges between 1100-1400 degrees F. and the third duration ranges from 15 to 130 mins, wherein an increase from the second temperature to the third temperature occurs over a duration that is greater than or equal to 5 mins, and wherein at the third temperature the steel product is in the pearlitic/ferritic phase;
• and
• cooling the steel product;
• and
• wherein the steel composition and the heat treatment process form the steel product that has a machinability rating that is at least greater than about 70% of an AISI 1212 steel.

A steel product, wherein the steel product comprises:

• a steel composition comprising:
• carbon in a range of 0.39 to 0.43 wt-%;
• manganese in a range of 0.75 to 1.0 wt-%;
• silicon in a range of 0.15 to 0.35 wt %;
• chromium in a range of 0.8 to 1.05 wt %;
• molybdenum in a range of 0.15 to 0.25 wt-%;
• at least one or more of:
• tellurium in a range of 0.003 to 0.090 wt-%;
• selenium in a range of 0.08 to 0.2 wt-%;
• sulfur in a range of 0.065 to 0.09 wt-%;
• or
• bismuth in a range of 0.03 to 0.1 wt-%;
• and
• a balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, including lead of 0.05 wt-% max;
• and
• wherein a microstructure of the steel product comprises lamellar pearlite;
• wherein the steel product is subjected to a heat treatment process during which the steel product is subjected to:
• a first temperature for a first duration, wherein the first temperature ranges between 1425-1800 degrees F. and wherein the first duration ranges from 15 mins to 5.75 hours, and wherein at the first temperature the steel product is in an austenitic phase;
• a second temperature for a second duration, wherein the second temperature is less than the first temperature, wherein the second temperature ranges between 1000-1300 degrees F. and wherein the second duration ranges from 1 min to 85 mins, and wherein at the second temperature and the third temperature the steel product is in a pearlitic/ferritic phase;
• and
• a third temperature for a third duration, wherein the third temperature is greater than the second temperature, wherein the third temperature ranges between 1100-1400 degrees F. and the third duration ranges from 15 to 130 mins, wherein an increase from the second temperature to the third temperature occurs over a duration that is greater than or equal to 5 mins, wherein the third temperature ranges between 1100-1400 degrees F., and wherein the third duration ranges from 15 to 130 mins;
• and
• cooling the steel product;
• wherein the steel composition and the heat treatment process form the steel product that has a machinability rating that is at least greater than about 70% of an AISI 1212 steel.