Nitrogen Containing Austenitic Stainless Steels

Nickel and nitrogen are the two most widely used alloying elements which can impart the face‐centered‐cubic crystal lattice to stainless steels. With the recent price increases and the price volatility of nickel, nitrogen is ever more important as an alloying element for a number of reasons. First, nitrogen is easily available everywhere and thus is not subject to speculation at the Metal Exchange. Second, in addition to making stainless steels austenitic, nitrogen can also make them stronger and more corrosion resistant.