Special Features of Steels Alloyed with Nitrogen

The role of nitrogen as an alloying element that stabilizes austenite in steels and makes it possible to replace nickel, manganese, and other austenization promoters without deterioration of mechanical and special properties of the metal is considered. Put into practice this could reduce the volume of mining of the mentioned elements. Methods for introducing nitrogen into iron alloys are described. The mechanical properties of nitrogen-bearing steels are considered. It is shown that such steels with a structure of nitrogen martensite possess a specific strength under static and cyclic loads no worse than the strength of light structural alloys and have better fracture toughness and technological properties than the latter. The replacement of light alloys by such steels should reduce the consumption of energy in the production.