Nanograin size, high-nitrogen austenific stainless steels

A new class of high-strength steels has been developed by combining solid solution hardening and grain boundary hardening in high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steels. Average grain diameters from 50 to 250 nm can be achieved, and yield strength levels of more than 2000 MPa in the solution-annealed condition have been measured. The effect of nitrogen solid solution hardening and grain boundary hardening is systematically explored.