Low-alloy ultra-high strength steel | C 0.25%-0.60%, Cr 5%, Si 5%, Ni 5% | Tempered martensite + fine dispersed carbides | Quenching + low temperature tempering, or isothermal quenching | Low cost and simple production process | Insufficient toughness, poor corrosion resistance and weldability | [35] |
| Secondary hardening ultra-high strength steel | C 0.10%-0.40%, Cr 5%-25%, Ni 5%-25%, Co 5%-25% | Tempered martensite (+ retained austenite) + carbides | Quenching + tempering | Excellent fatigue resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance | High cost, prone to segregation | [36] |
Maraging steel | C 0.1%, Ni 20%, Co 20%, Mo 20% | Low-carbon Fe-Ni martensitic matrix + intermetallic compounds (such as Ni3Ti and Ni3Mo) | Solution treatment + aging | Good cold formability, simple heat treatment, and excellent weldability | Sensitive to compositional fluctuations, high cost | [37] |
| PH ultra-high strength stainless steel | C 0.25%, Cr 12%, Ni 12% | Tempered martensite + intermetallic compounds (such as NiAl, Ni3Ti, and Laves phase) | Solution treatment + aging | Good weldability, easy machinability, and excellent corrosion resistance | High Cr and Ni contents, high cost | [1] |