Development of Powder Metallurgy High Nitrogen Stainless Steel
Nitrogen alloying in steel may greatly increase the strength and corrosion resistance of the material. This paper introduced some research results of high nitrogen stainless steel (HNS) investigation via PM process. Nickel free high nitrogen stainless steels (17Cr12Mn2MoN) and superaustenitic high nitrogen stainless steels (28Cr6Mn2/6Mo10/20NiN) were investigated via gas atomization and HIP processes. Nitrogen alloying behavior during atomization and consolidation processes was investigated. Powders with nitrogen content up to 1% were manufactured by gas atomization process. Nickel free high nitrogen stainless steels with nitrogen up to 0.6% exhibits high strength and ductility at as-HIPed and solution annealed state, and superaustenitic HNS with nitrogen content up to 1% showed very high strength and good ductility at solution annealed state, with b at 1100 MPa, s at 810 MPa and elongation of 43%. PM HNS exhibited excellent corrosion resistance.