Work-hardenable substantially austenitic stainless steel and method

摘要

A substantially austenitic stainless steel is provided which is characterized by increased strength resulting from martensite formation upon cold working; the stainless steel consists essentially of, in weight percent, 0.08 max. carbon, 0.25 max. nitrogen, 12 to 15 chromium, 6.5 to 8.5 manganese, about 2 to 3.5 nickel, the sum of manganese and nickel being at least 9.0, and balance iron. The steel is further characterized by having less than 15% ferromagnetic phases in the cast and hot-processed conditions. A method of producing the steel product including hot working the steel alloy to a thickness which allows cold working by an amount equivalent to up to 25% thickness reduction and cold working without an intermediate anneal is also provided.