Fine-grained martensitic stainless steel and method thereof

1. A fine-grained iron base alloy in which the ASTM grain size number is greater than or equal to 5, consisting essentially of (wt. %): 0.05<C<0.15%, 7.5<Cr<15%, 2<Ni<5%, Co<4%, Cu<1.2%, Mn<5%, Si<1.0%, (Mo+W)<4%, 0.01<Ti<0.75%, Zr<1.6%, Ta<3.2%, Hf<3.2%, Ti, Zr, Ta, Hf present such that 0.135<(1.17Ti+0.6Zr+0.31Ta+0.31Hf)<1.0, N<0.02%, Al<0.2%, (Al+Si)>0.01, each of B, Ce, Mg, Sc, Y, La, and Be less than 0.1%, P<0.1%, S<0.03%, each of Sn, Sb, O and other impurities less than 0.04%, and the balance essentially iron.

2. An iron base alloy as in claim 1 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition.

3. An iron base alloy as in claim 1 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition and formed into a tubular product.

4. An iron base alloy as in claim 1 wherein the alloy is in a hot worked condition and formed into a tubular product.

5. A fine-grained iron base alloy in which the ASTM grain size number is greater than or equal to 5, consisting essentially of 0.05<C<0.15%, 7.5<Cr<15%, 2<Ni<5%, Co<4%, Cu<1.2%, Mn<5%, Si<1.0%, (Mo+W)<4%, 0.01<Ti<0.75%, Zr<1.6%, Ta<3.2%, Hf<3.2%, Ti, Zr, Ta, Hf present such that 0.135<(1.17Ti+0.6Zr+0.31Ta+0.31Hf)<1.0, V<2, Nb<1, N<0.02%, Al<0.2%, (Al+Si)>0.01, each of B, Ce, Mg, Sc, Y, La, and Be less than 0.1%, P<0.1%, S<0.03%, each of Sn, Sb, O and other impurities less than 0.04%, and the balance essentially iron.

6. An iron base alloy as in claim 5 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition.

7. An iron base alloy as in claim 5 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition and formed into a tubular product.

8. An iron base alloy as in claim 5 wherein the alloy is in a hot worked condition and formed into a tubular product.

9. A method of producing a fine-grained iron base alloy that comprises preparing an iron base alloy consisting essentially of 0.05<C<0.15%, 7.5<Cr<15%, 2%<Ni<5%, Co<4%, Cu<1.2%, Mn<5%, Si<1.0%, (Mo+W)<4%, 0.01<Ti<0.75%, Zr<1.6%, Ta<3.2%, Hf<3.2%, Ti, Zr, Ta, Hf present such that 0.135<(1.17Ti+0.6Zr+0.31Ta+0.31Hf)<1.0, V<2%, Nb<1%, N<0.02%, Al<0.2%, (Al+Si)>0.01, each of B, Ce, Mg, Sc, Y, La, and Be less than 0.1%, P<0.1%, S<0.03%, each of Sn, Sb, O and other impurities less than 0.04%, and the balance essentially iron; and thermal mechanically treating by austinitizing it at a temperature above 1000° C., hot working the alloy at a temperature greater than 1000° C. to impart a true strain of greater than 0.15 (15%) and cooling the alloy to room temperature to obtain a fine grain size martensitic microstructure in which the ASTM grain size number is greater than or equal to 5.

10. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 9 , wherein hot working the alloy comprises hot rolling the alloy at a temperature above about 1000° C. to impart the true strain of greater than 0.15 (15%).

11. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 9 , wherein hot rolling the alloy further comprises forming the alloy into a tubular product.

12. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 9 , wherein hot working the alloy further comprises forming the alloy into a tubular product.

13. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 9 , further comprising heat treating the alloy after it is cooled to room temperature while retaining a fine grain size in which the ASTM grain size number is greater than or equal to 5.

14. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 13 , wherein heat treating the alloy after it is cooled to room temperature further comprises tempering the alloy.

15. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 13 , wherein heat treating the alloy after it is cooled to room temperature further comprises quenching and tempering the alloy.

16. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 13 , wherein heat treating the alloy after it is cooled to room temperature further comprises normalizing and tempering the alloy.

17. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 13 , wherein heat treating the alloy after it is cooled to room temperature further comprises normalizing the alloy.

18. A method of producing an iron base alloy as in claim 13 wherein heat treating the alloy after it is cooled to room temperature further comprises austenitizing and quenching the alloy.

19. A fine-grained iron base alloy in which the ASTM grain size number is greater than or equal to 5, consisting essentially of within a range of plus or minus 15% of the following nominal amounts 0.09 wt. % C, about 10.7 wt. % Cr, about 2.4 wt. % Ni, about 0.5 wt. % Mn, about 0.5 wt. % Mo, about 0.15 wt. % Si, about 0.024 wt. % Al, about 0.37 wt. % Ti and the balance essentially iron and impurities.

20. An iron base alloy as in claim 19 wherein the alloy is in a hot worked condition.

21. An iron base alloy as in claim 19 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition.

22. An iron base alloy as in claim 19 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition and formed into a tubular product.

23. An iron base alloy as in claim 19 wherein the alloy is in a hot worked condition and formed into a tubular product.

24. A fine-grained iron base alloy in which the ASTM grain size number is greater than or equal to 5, consisting essentially of 0.09 wt. % C, about 10.7 wt. % Cr, about 2.4 wt. % Ni, about 0.5 wt. % Mn, about 0.5 wt. % Mo, about 0.15 wt. % Si, about 0.024 wt. % Al, about 0.37 wt. % Ti, and the balance essentially iron and impurities.

25. An iron base alloy as in claim 24 wherein the alloy is in a hot worked condition.

26. An iron base alloy as in claim 24 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition.

27. An iron base alloy as in claim 24 wherein the alloy is in a hot rolled condition and formed into a tubular product.

28. An iron base alloy as in claim 24 wherein the alloy is in a hot worked condition and formed into a tubular product.