The invention relates to a steel wire suitable for making a spring or medical wire products which remarkably improve the performance of conventional stainless steel wire. The steel comprises (in wt. %): C: 0.02 to 0.15, Si: 0.1 to 0.9, Mn: 0.8 to 1.6, Cr: 16 to 20, Ni: 7.5 to 10.5, Mo: ≤ 3, Al: 0.5 to 2.5, Ti: ≤ 0.15, N: ≤ 0.05, optional elements, and impurities, balance Fe, wherein the total amount of Cr and Ni is 25 to 27 wt. %, and wherein the steel has a microstructure including, in volume % (vol. %), martensite: 40 to 90, austenite: 10 to 60, and delta ferrite: ≤ 5.本發明包含了一種適合用來製作彈簧或醫用線材的鋼絲,可顯著地改善傳統不鏽鋼鋼絲的品質表現。製造鋼絲的鋼材包含了下列以重量百分比表示的元素:碳:0.02至0.15,矽:0.1至0.9,錳:0.8至1.6,鎘:16至20,鎳:7.5至10.5,鉬: ≤ 3,鋁:0.5至2.5,鈦: ≤ 0.15,氮: ≤ 0.05、選擇性的元素、以及雜質與餘量的鐵。其中鎘與鎳的重量占總重的百分之25至27,鋼絲具有以體積百分比表示的下列微結構:麻田散體40至90、沃斯田體10至60以及δ肥粒體 ≤ 5。