| abstract |
A spring consists of, by mass %, 0.5 to 0.7% of C, 1.0 to 2.0% of Si, 0.1 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.1 to 1.0% of Cr, not more than 0.035% of P, not more than 0.035% of S, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities. The spring has a structure including not less than 65% of bainite and 4 to 13% of residual austenite by area ratio in a cross section. The spring has a compressive residual stress layer in a cross section from a surface to a depth of 0.35 mm to D/4, in which D (mm) is a circle-equivalent diameter of the cross section. The spring has a high hardness layer with greater hardness than a center portion by 50 to 500 HV from a surface to a depth of 0.05 to 0.3 mm. |