Mechanical Properties of Ni-Free High-Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steel Made by Metal Injection Molding with Nitrogen Absorption Method

Abstract

Microstructure and mechanical properties of high nitrogen steels containing 17Cr-12Mn-3Mo produced by means of metal injection moulding and nitrogen absorption methods were examined. The compacts were sintered at 1300°C, then furnace-cooled to 1200°C and were held at that temperature for 2 to 20 hrs. Subsequently, they were furnace-cooled. Thereafter, solution treatment was done at 1200°C. The solution treated compacts held at 1200°C for above 5 hrs had homogeneous microstructure. Increasing the holding time at 1200°C, ferrite phase disappeared due to the increment of nitrogen content and grain size became larger. Lattice constant of austenite phase also increased. Yield and tensile strength increased with increasing nitrogen content. Yield and tensile strength of the compact held at 1200°C for 10 hrs were 758 MPa, 1172 MPa respectively and elongation was 41 %. However, ductile-brittle transition (DBT) behaviour was seen, and the DBT temperature of every compact was about -20°C. From the fracture surface analysis, brittle fracture surface was identified as (111).