Steel pipe for fuel injection pipe, and fuel injection pipe using same

Abstract

A steel pipe for a fuel injection pipe has a chemical composition consisting of, by mass %: C: 0.17 to 0.27%, Si: 0.05 to 0.40%, Mn: 0.30 to 2.00%, P: 0.020% or less, S: 0.0100% or less, O: 0.0040% or less, Ca: 0.0010% or less, Al: 0.005 to 0.060%, N: 0.0020 to 0.0080%, Ti: 0.005 to 0.015%, Nb: 0.015 to 0.045%, Cr: 0 to 1.00%, Mo: 0 to 1.00%, Cu: 0 to 0.50%, Ni: 0 to 0.50%, V: 0 to 0.15%, and the balance: Fe and impurities. The metal micro-structure consists substantially of tempered martensite, or tempered martensite and tempered bainite. A prior-austenite grain size number is 9.0 or more. The hardness is within the range of 350 to 460 HV1. When a maximum value of a square root of an area of inclusions observed in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the steel pipe is taken as a(n=1 to 20), a maximum value aof ais 30.0 μm or less, and an average value aof ais 40% or more of a.