Grain size dependence of mechanical, corrosion and tribological properties of high nitrogen stainless steels

Austenitic stainless steels have been indispensable for the progress of technology during the last 80 years. Due to the cost of nickel and to the prospective of allergic reactions caused by this element, more and more laboratories and industries are trying to develop a new class of austenitic stainless steels with a low nickel content. In order to maintain the austenitic microstructure, nickel reduction is balanced with nitrogen addition. Nitrogen addition to austenitic stainless steels is also very effective for improving yield strength and corrosion resistance without reducing ductility and toughness. In order to further increase the strength, it is possible to combine the effect of nitrogen addition and grain refining. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between microstructures and mechanical, corrosion and tribological properties of a high nitrogen stainless steel with an ultrafine grained structure. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.