a powder - metallurgy - produced , essentially titanium - free , nickel - containing maraging steel article such as for use in the manufacture of die casting die components and other hot work tooling components . the article preferably contains an intentional addition of niobium . the article may be produced as a hot - isostatically - compacted , solution annealed , fully dense mass of prealloyed particles , or alternately , as a hot - isostatically - compacted , plastically deformed and solution annealed , fully dense mass of prealloyed particles .