Method for transforming steel blanks

1. A method for transforming a steel blank with a tubular or substantially cylindrical shape essentially comprising the following composition in weight percentages of the total composition:

Carbon: 0.37-0.42,

Manganese: <0.15,

Silicon: <0.100,

Nickel: 3.50-3.80,

Chromium: 1.50-1.70,

Molybdenum: 0.70-1.00

Vanadium: 0.25-0.30,

Iron: balance

as well as inevitable impurities which are generally dinitrogen, dioxygen and dihydrogen,

said method comprising a step for transforming the blank by kneading in order to obtain a kneading rate of the thickest cross-section of the tubular or substantially cylindrical form, less than or equal to 5.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises after kneading, annealing for improving the structure of the steel.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the annealing comprises an anti-flaking annealing step comprising maintaining the temperature of about 650° C.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein it comprises at least oven-cooling after hot kneading and/or annealing in order to avoid risks of cracks upon cooling.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a steel cylinder or tube is obtained and wherein a heat treatment is carried out on said steel cylinder or tube in order to obtain a steel cylinder or tube having an entirely martensitic structure.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the heat treatment comprises heating then oil quenching or quenching with a fluid with suitable cooling power in order to lead to an entirely martensitic structure and to reduce the risk of cracking.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein after heat treatment a first tempering operation is carried out in order to increase hardness of the steel.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein after heat treatment at least one tempering operation is carried out in order to obtain homogeneity of in mechanical characteristics along the steel cylinder or tube.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the steel blank with a tubular or substantially cylindrical shape is obtained by a method for elaborating the steel blank comprising an electroconductive slag remelting (ESR) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR).

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after kneading the method comprises a normalizing step followed by controlled cooling rates to improve the mechanical characteristics of the steel.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the kneading consists in forging and wherein before forging, heating the ingot and maintaining the temperature are carried out in order to homogenize the chemical composition and to participate in improving the mechanical characteristics.

12. A steel blank for forming a pressure device component capable of being obtained by a method as defined according to any of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 and 8 to 11 .

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transformation step by kneading consists in forging which comprises a rise in temperature and for a sufficient time in order to reduce segregation within the steel.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein after forging the method comprises a controlled cooling rate to improve the mechanical characteristics of the steel.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein it comprises at least oven-cooling after forging in order to avoid risks of cracks upon cooling.