High-strength steel material having excellent fatigue properties

Abstract

The present invention provides a steel material, such as a high-strength spring, that has excellent fatigue properties, and, more specifically, a steel material, such as the high-strength spring, that can improve the fatigue properties in a high-strength region more easily, without increasing an alloy cost. The steel material includes, in percent by mass, C: 0.5 to 1.0%, Si: 1.5 to 2.50%, Mn: 0.5 to 1.50%, P: more than 0% to 0.020% or less, S: more than 0% to 0.020% or less, Cr: more than 0% to 0.2% or less, Al: more than 0% to 0.010% or less, N: more than 0% to 0.0070% or less, and O: more than 0% to 0.0040% or less, and the balance consisting of iron and inevitable impurities, wherein Cr and Si contents satisfy a formula of Cr×Si≤0.20, a ratio of tempered martensite in a steel microstructure is 80% or more by area, and a number density of particles of Cr-containing carbide or carbonitride having a circle-equivalent diameter of 50 nm or more in the steel microstructure is 0.10 particles/μmor less.