Some theoretical aspects on designing nickel free high nitrogen austeniticstainless steels

Nickel free high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel design calls for prope r choice of alloying constituents that enhances nitrogen solubility and ret ention of the same after alloying. The nitrogen alloyed should be adequate enough to give a single phase austenitic matrix along with other alloying e lemental constituents. The various studies that evaluated these aspects sho w certain inconsistencies. Certain empirical formulations have been evolved in this study by analyzing all various published data. The formulae obtain ed, enables choice of alloying elemental composition to get desired microst ructure and strength in the solution annealed condition. The various inadeq uacies that exists in the data used for assessing nitrogen solubility calls for caution when they are applied to actual nitrogen steel production proc ess conditions.