Nickel saving in a 0Kh17N12M2-type (AISI 316) steel due to nitrogen alloying

The possibilities of the maximum decrease in the nickel content in an AISI 316 (0Kh17N12M2-type) steel via partial substitution of nitrogen for nickel and the corresponding correction of the contents of other alloying elements are analyzed. The corrected chemical composition of an AISI 316L-based steel is ≤0.02% C, 0.1–0.3% N, 17.5–18.5% Cr, 2.2–2.7% Mo, 3–4% Mn, and 0.1–0.5% Si. Calculation of the chromium equivalents of martensite formation and ferrite formation using the Potak-Sagalevich structure-phase diagram shows that, after quenching, these steels should have a purely austenitic structure without martensite or ferrite.