Processing nickel free high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels through conventional electroslag remelting process

Nickel free high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels, made through air-ind uction melting were processed using conventional electroslag remelting (ESR ) process without application of nitrogen gas pressure over the melt, it wa s found possible to retain the high nitrogen contents of the original steel . The loss in nitrogen content during ESR was found to increase with increa sing melt rate. Electroslag remelting was carried out on eleven steels with a base composition at around 18wt%Cr-18wt%Mn-0.1 to 0.6wt%C-0.53 to 0.9wt% N. While the air-induction melted steel had extensive porosity, the ESR ing ots were all sound and free from porosity. Thus, steels made in any other p rocess route can be successfully remelted using conventional ESR. The cast structure analysis in a typical medium carbon high nitrogen steel showed th at Cr and Mn has a tendency for microsegregation. The presence of microsegr egation and residual carbides affect the ductility of the cast steel.