High-strength bainitic steel

A high-strength steel alloy consisting essentially of:

• about 0.35 weight percent carbon;
• about 1.65 weight percent manganese;
• about 0.45 weight percent silicon;
• about 0.4 weight percent chromium;
• about 0.7 weight percent nickel;
• about 0.25 weight percent molybdenum;
• and
• the balance iron.

A method of forming a steel alloy component, the method comprising:

• creating a steel alloy comprising iron, about 0.24 to about 0.80 weight percent carbon, about 0.40 to about 2.10 weight percent manganese, about 0.20 to about 1.60 weight percent silicon, about 0.05 to about 0.14 weight percent sulfur, about 0.10 to about 12.0 weight percent chromium, about 0.10 to about 2.50 weight percent nickel, and about 0.02 to about 0.07 weight percent aluminum;
• casting in a mold the steel alloy to form the component;
• shaking out the mold;
• and
• air quenching the component until the component has a temperature in the range of 420 to 530 degrees Celsius.