Steel strap composition

A heat treated steel strap usable in a strapping machine has a tensile strength of at least about 170 KSI, and an elongation of at least about 6.5 percent. The steel strap is fabricated from a coiled steel reduced by cold rolling. The strap has a composition of 0.30 to 0.36 percent carbon, 0.90 to 1.25 percent manganese, and 0.75 to 1.10 percent silicon. The strap is heated to a temperature of about 815° C. to about 900° C. and quenched to a temperature of about 370° C. to about 510° C. The strap has a seal joint break strength of about 4350 pounds when the strap has a width of about one inch and a thickness of 0.030 inches. A method for forming the strap is also disclosed.