Properties of a High Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel Produced by a Pressurized Melting Method

Abstract

Nitrogen is one of the most effective elements to enhance strength, corrosion resistance and austenite stability of stainless steels. Recently many studies have been conducted about high nitrogen stainless steels produced by pressurized melting process such as pressurized electro-slag-remelting, pressurized induction melting and so on. In this report, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of an experimental high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel Fe-8Mn-21Cr-4Mo-1.2N ; mass%, produced by a pressurized induction melting method were investigated and the following results were obtained. The tensile strength of the solution treated steel at room temperature is higher than that of SUS304 and the ductility is close to that of SUS304. The 70 % cold worked steel has extreamly high tensile sterength over 2500 MPa maintaining non-magnetic property. The pitting resistance and crevice corrosion resistance are superior to those of duplex stainless steel SUS329J3L and close to an austenitic super stainless steel SUS836L.