Effects of pre-precipitation of Cr2N on microstructures and properties of high nitrogen stainless steel

Aging precipitation and solid solution heat treatment were carried out on three steels which have chromium content of 18%, manganese content of 12%, 15%, 18%, and nitrogen content of 0.43%, 0.53%, 0.67%, respectively. The mechanisms of precipitation and solid solution of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel were studied using the scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron probe micro analysis and mechanical testing. The results show that, Cr₂N is the primary precipitate in the tested stainless steels instead of Cr₂₃C₆. Cr₂N nucleates at austenitic grain boundaries and grows towards inner grains with a lamellar morphology. By means of pre-precipitation of Cr₂N at 800 °C, the microstructure of the steels at solid solution state can be refined, thus improving the strength and plasticity. After the proposed treatment, the tensile strength, the proof strength and the elongation of the tested steel reach 881 MPa, 542 MPa and 54%, respectively.