Martensitic stainless steel machineability optimization

1. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel comprising:

1) heating steel to a temperature higher than austenizing temperature of the steel, then quenching the steel until a hottest portion of the steel is at a temperature less than or equal to a maximum temperature, and greater than or equal to a minimum temperature, a rate of cooling being sufficiently fast for austenite not to transform into a ferrito-perlitic structure;

2) performing a first anneal on the steel followed by cooling until the hottest portion of the steel is at a temperature less than or equal to the maximum temperature and greater than or equal to the minimum temperature; and

3) performing a second anneal of the steel followed by cooling to ambient temperature;

wherein the maximum temperature is less than or equal to the temperature for an end of martensitic transformation on cooling in inter-dendritic spaces in the steel, and, at an end of each of 1) and 2), performing:

A) as soon as temperature of the hottest portion of the steel reaches the maximum temperature, immediately reheating the steel, and

wherein, in each of 1) and 2), further comprising performing, before A):

B) as soon as the temperature of the hottest portion of the steel reaches a threshold temperature lower than the temperature for the start of martensitic transformation on cooling in dendrites in the steel, and higher than the temperature for the end of martensitic transformation on cooling in inter-dendritic spaces, maintaining the steel in an environment in which there substantially exists a temperature lying between the minimum temperature and the temperature for a threshold duration so as to reduce a temperature gradient between a surface of the steel and the hottest portion of the steel.

2. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum temperature is in a range of 20° C. to 75° C.

3. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 2 , wherein the maximum temperature is in a range of 28° C. to 35° C.

4. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein, in A), the temperature of a skin of the steel is measured and charts are used to deduce therefrom the temperature of the hottest portion of the steel.

5. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein after 3), the steel is subjected to relaxation at least once at a temperature lower than the annealing temperatures at which the first anneal of 2) and the second anneal of 3) were performed.

6. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein, in B), the steel is placed in an oven having a temperature in a range of the minimum temperature to the temperature for the threshold duration.

7. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein prior to 1), the steel is subjected to remelting.

8. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein prior to 1), a homogenization treatment is performed on the steel.

9. A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel according to claim 1 , wherein the composition of the steel is C 0.10 wt % to 0.17 wt % —Si<0.30 wt % —Mn 0.5 wt % to 0.9 wt % —Cr 11 wt % to 12.5 wt % —Ni 2 wt % to 3 wt % —Mo 1.50 wt % to 2.00 wt % 13 V 0.25 wt % to 0.40 wt % —N 2 0.010 wt % to 0.050 wt % —Cu <0.5 wt % —S<0.015 wt % —P<0.025 wt %—balance Fe, and satisfying the following criterion:

4.5<Cr−40×C−2×Mn−4×Ni+6×Si4×Mo+11×V−30×N<9.