Mechanical and microstructural properties of nitrogen–high pressure melted Fe–Cr–Ni alloys

A series of iron-chromium-nickel alloys was melted under a nitrogen atmosphere at several different pressures. Nitrogen–high pressure melting (N–HPM) was conducted under pressures ranging from 0.1 to 200 MPa. The total nitrogen concentrations achieved in these alloys were proportional to the square root of the nitrogen pressure used during melting. Nitrogen took the form of soluble interstitial nitrogen and metal nitride precipitates, Fe_xN and CrN. Tensile properties of N–HPM alloys were directly proportional to the nitrogen concentration in the alloy.