The P/M processing of high-nitrogen stainless steels

The production of high-nitrogen steels requires the utilization of unique melting and casting technologies such as pressurized electroslag remelting; however, production can be accomplished via powder metallurgy techniques utilizing lower-cost modifications to existing gas-atomization equipment and, in the solid state, by the development of novel processing schemes and equipment. This article describes two methods, one liquid- and one solid-state processing,for file production of high-nitrogen stainless steels - pressurized gas atomization and solid-state nitriding in a mechanical-fluidized vacuum machine.