[en] Heat resisting steels with relatively low nickel content have been designed and tested, which showed creep strength and corrosion resistance equivalent or superior to the present prime candidate nickel base alloys. The materials are expected to substitute nickel base alloys in the applications to the components in reactor core, e.g. neutron absorber sheathing, for which most nickel rich alloys are not suited because of their susceptibility to the loss of ductility caused by thermal neutron irradiation. 12Cr-12Ni-5Mo-5Cu-iron base alloys were designed and several similar versions were prepared. Tests at high temperatures were conducted on tensile properties at up to 1000₀C, creep rupture properties at 700 -- 900₀C, toughness after aging at 700 and 800₀C and corrosion resistance in the impure helium gas at 900₀C. The helium environment was prepared simulating the impurity contents in the coolant of high temperature gas-cooled reactor. After exposure test to the impure helium, changes in weight and carbon content were measured, and metallurgical analysis was made by optical microscopy, EPMA analysis and X-ray diffraction. It was found that creep rupture strength of a heat of 12Cr-12Ni-5Mo-5Cu steel with small amounts of niobium was superior to the prime candidate material, Hastelloy alloy XR and was comparable to Inconel alloy 617, although some significant decrease in toughness occurred after aging at intermediate temperatures. Weight gain due to oxidation and carbon increase due to carburization of this steel in the simulated impure helium gas were lower than those of Hastelloy alloy XR. In conclusion this alloy, with appropriate modification, can be a potential substitutional material as the structural material to be used under thermal neutron exposure. The material may also be potential for general structural applications for high temperature gas-cooled reactors, substituting the commonly used material like Incoloy alloy 800H. (author)