Spring steel and spring

Abstract

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 SiO2 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  (a), and C=[Si]/[Mn]  (b).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.