Microalloy steels usually have carbon contents in the range of 0.15 to 0.55%, manganese in the range of 0.60 to 1.65%, silicon in the range of 0.15 to 0.65% and either small amounts of vanadium, columbium (niobium), titanium or nickel and molybdenum in various combinations. Vanadium, columbium and titanium form carbides and/or nitrides that remain in solid solution at most forging temperatures, but precipitate during the subsequent cooling at controlled rates. The precipitation phenomenon assists in enhancing the strength of these steels after forging and controlled cooling.