Efforts to save nickel in austenitic stainless steels

The price of nickel is maintaining high level due to the demand continuing to outstrip supply, therefore the stainless steel, which is the largest consumer of nickel, has been maintaining a high-price. In this review, the way of nickel saving by more than half and the comparison of properties between the nickel saving stainless steels and Type 304 were reviewed, and the problem caused by the use of the nickel saving stainless steels were discussed. Nickel saving stainless steels have the following 4 types; martensitic stainless steels, ferritic stainless steels, duplex stainless steels and Cr-Mn-Ni austenitic stainless steels. Nickel saving stainless steels have both superior and inferior points as compared to Type 304, however they have a large possibility of substitution for Type 304. Further expansion of the use of nickel saving stainless steels is expected if the properties required for the stainless steel are reconsidered for proper demands.