Development of High Nitrogen Steels at Bohler Edelstahl GmbH Kapfenberg

摘要

The installation of a new protective gas / pressure electroslag remelting plant at Bohler Edelstahl GmbH Kapfenberg (Austria) has offered new possibilities in the development of nitrogen alloyed steels. Based on experiences of conventional nitrogen alloyed steel grades further activities on alloy development with nitrogen contents above the solubility limit have been done at Bohler Edelstahl, concentrating on three main areas: martensitic corrosion resistant steels, duplex stainless steels and austenitic stainless steels. This paper presents the new protective gas / pressure electroslag remelting plant and its main advantages. Furthermore the current developments of high nitrogen alloyed steels conceived for the manufacture via this plant and the facilities at Bohler Edelstahl are presented as well as practical examples and the transfer to large scale production.