STRENGTHENING CHARACTERISTICS OF NITROGEN-ALLOYED 201-STAINLESS-STEEL

Strengthening characteristics of 201 stainless steel under nitrogen en hancement from zero to approximately 1.5 wt% N concentration are impro ved with increasing nitrogen. Yield and tensile strength, strain harde ning, and cold-work/hardness relationships are proportional to nitroge n concentration. Strengths increased with increasing nitrogen up 1.0 w t %, even though at nitrogen concentrations greater than 0.65 wt%, Cr2 N precipitates formed. Strengthening models from tensile and cold work ing are discussed, compared, and correlated to nitrogen concentration, tensile properties, and microstructure.