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Production and Application of Advanced High Nitrogen steel

Conference Paper · November 2013

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 Production and Application of Advanced High Nitrogen Steel
Saeed Nabil Ghali, Mamdouh Eissa, Hoda El-Faramawy, Azza Ahmed, Taha Mattar and
Michael Mishreky
Steel Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R & D Institute (CMRDI), Cairo, Egypt

1. Abstract
Nitrogen was considered for long period to be in the same category as certain undesirable
residual elements in steel, which are generally harmful for its properties. This was believed
as high nitrogen contained steel is subject to ageing with deterioration of its plasticity with
time.
Recently, it was noticed that nitrogen has significant effect on mechanical properties, phase
stability, corrosion behavior and oxidation resistance. Therefore, the technologies have
developed to produce nitrogen and high nitrogen steels. The technologies for production of
nitrogen steel including arc furnace , induction furnace, electro slag remelting, pressurised
induction furnace, pressurised electroslag remelting, powder metallurgy and mechanical
alloying - in addition to- the surface technologies such as gaseous solution nitriding, plasma
furnaces, laser technology.
Nitrogen became promising alloying element in steel, where nitrogen alloyed different steel
grades such as Mn – steel, HSLA steel, duplex stainless steel, austenitic, ferritic and
martensitic stainless steels which have applications in different fields.
Steel Technology Department in Central Metallurgical R & D Institute (CMRDI) has
significant contribution in development nitrogen steels using different techniques.
Keywords: Application, Production, Nitrogen, Stainless, Steel
2. Introduction
Nitrogen was considered for long period to be in the same category as certain undesirable
residual elements in steel, which are generally harmful for its properties. This was believed as
high nitrogen contained steel is subject to ageing with deterioration of its plasticity with time.

Recently, it was noticed that nitrogen has significant effect on mechanical properties, phase
stability, corrosion behavior and oxidation resistance. Therefore, the technologies have
developed to produce nitrogen and high nitrogen steels. The technologies for production of
nitrogen steel includes arc furnace , induction furnace, electro slag remelting, pressurized
induction furnace, pressurized electroslag remelting, powder metallurgy and mechanical
alloying - in addition to- the surface technologies such as gaseous solution nitriding, plasma
furnaces, laser technology.
Nitrogen became promising alloying element in steel, where nitrogen alloyed different steel
grades which have applications in different fields such as transportations, environment
technologies, industrial plants civil engineering and equipments,…etc.

3. Development of Production of Nitrogen Steel

Nitrogen steel can be produced in open air (electric arc and induction furnace, electroslag
remelting), under nitrogen pressure (pressurized induction furnace, pressure electroslag
remelting-PESR-), by powder metallurgy and surface alloying methods.

Corresponding Author: email : a3708052@yahoo.com, Tel: +202-25010642, mob: +201223657040,

Fax:+202-25010639

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3.1 Open air melting
Nitrogen steels can be produced using the conventional melting techniques. Shumacher and
others[1] produced nitrogen steels in an open air furnaces. High-nitrogen and nitrogen free
commercial grades of ferroalloys and pure elements were used. The heats were cast from
1450°C into iron ingots molds. After solidification, the ingots were examined for porosity
and casting defects. Manganese plays an important role in stabilizing the austenitic structure
of the steel and in keeping nitrogen in solid solution. In electric arc furnace, Nb was added to
fix nitrogen in steel to improve the resistance to rust as well as the resistance to the attack by
acids without impairing surface appearance of the steel.
In open air electro-slag refining (ESR) steel, the nitrogen was found to decrease. The
behaviour of nitrogen in ESR depends on initial nitrogen content in consumed electrode,
composition of steel to be re-melted, slag composition and consequently the physical
properties of slag and re-melting rate. It was found that in the re-melting of steels that do not
contain nitride-forming elements, nitrogen content may be sharply decreased while in the
case of steels contain nitride forming elements, the nitrogen content remains constant or
decreases slightly[2].

3.2 Pressure metallurgy

3.2.1 Production of high nitrogen steel

An increase of P N2 above ambient pressure requires a pressure chamber around the melting
unit. This route of enhancing the N-solubility is therefore restricted to special equipment of
higher cost. Thus, it is generally used in combination with alloying to reach a nitrogen level
above that feasible by alloying alone. The nitrogen content in the melt is proportional
to PN 2 . If it is assumed that the cost of equipment increases with nitrogen pressure, the
diverging pressure exponents imply an economical pressure limit[3].

Massive nitrogen alloying of steels in pressuresed induction furnaces is effect via the gas
phase. Nitrogen pickup, which takes place at the interface between molten metal and gas via
the reaction N 2 → 2N , depends on the period of contact, the contact surface area of the
melt/gas interface, melt temperature and the pressure of the nitrogen in the system. The
massive nitrogen alloying of mainly austenitic steels in laboratory scale pressurized induction
furnaces was reported on as early as 1962 and 1963. Nevertheless, this type of furnace is
excellent suitable for small experimental heats of up to 100 kg.

Induction furnace working under nitrogen pressure developed to be its capacity 500 kg. At
nitrogen pressure 1.2 MPa after 3.5 h by continuous operation of the generator, the nitrogen
content in CrMnN18 12 steel has increased by 0.35 to 0.42%[4].

3.2.2 Pressure electro slag remelting (PESR)

Pressure electro slag remelting (PESR) technique has advantage in production of high
nitrogen steel such as [5]
• Purging with N gas offers an inexpensive way of alloying and automatically by the
stirring effect obtained thereby results in even temperature and alloy distribution
• As there are no side effects by nitrogen alloying the base metal can be made by a
conventional process to its basic chemical specification
• Easy control of nitrogen by controlling the pressure in treatment chamber
• Any conventional casting process can be applied, like ingot casting, centrifugal
casting etc. so that castings of near net shape can be produced

2
 • Formation of blowholes during solidification due to reduced solubility can be safely
avoided as alloying occurs not at the same time as solidification and the pressure
during solidification can be controlled
• Should ESR be required for quality reasons a simplified pressure ESR process can be
applied with the standard good yield as known from conventional ESR
• Absolutely uniform N-distribution in ESR ingots as the electrode has the required
nitrogen content.
The most disadvantages of PESR are:
• The yield of usable good material is relatively low
• High costs for the required nitrogen as high nitrogen alloys are expensive
• When silicon nitride is used in order to improve the nitrogen distribution in the ingot
the Si – pick up may be unacceptable for certain grades.
• The process only allows the production of ingots of a defined size range.

3.3 Powder metallurgy

Steel powders having a suitable chemical composition can be enriched with high amounts of
nitrogen by nitriding it in a furnace under a nitrogen or nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere; within
some hours high N-contents can be achieved. The N level of steel powder containing 18%Cr,
18%Mn nitrided at 800 oC, is shifted from 0.56 to 1 wt.% within 1 hour. After nitriding the
powder is encapsulated and hot – isostatically pressed (HIP). Alternatively also a nitriding of
powder during the HIP process is possible [3].

3.4 Surface alloying of steel by nitrogen

There are different techniques to surface steels and stainless steels alloying by nitrogen such
as nitriding (gaseous and plasma), ion implantation, and laser methods. The addition of
nitrogen increase hardness at the surface, improve wear resistance and corrosion resistances
[6-7]. The following criterion should be considered in choosing an appropriate technique for
surface alloying of steels and stainless steels with nitrogen:
• The surface treatment should not impair the bulk properties
• The technique must be capable of modifying the components with complexity in size
and shape
• Adequate thickness providing better properties must be achieved
• Should retain nitrogen as element in higher quantities
• Cost – effective and easily adoptable for industrial applications

4. Products and Application of Nitrogen Steel

Nitrogen is promising alloying element in steel, and though the application of nitrogen –
containing steels is permanently expanding the possibilities of this element however it is still
used insufficiently. It wider application is restricted by the more complicated processes of its
introduction in comparison with other elements and an increase of the risk of obtaining
porous ingots or castings as a result of gas liberation during solidification of steel[8].
Nitrogen alloyed different steel grades can be used in various fields such as:
• Transportation ( cables, blades of reactors, landing parts of aircrafts, wheels for trains,
body of cars, double shell for fuel tankers, etc. )
• Environment technologies, (safely in oil pipeline, petrol prospection, etc.)
• Industrial plants and equipments (mechanical industry, car industry, nuclear reactors,
control devices, cutting machine, paper industry, etc. )
• Civil engineering

3
 • Leisure and sport industry (high demand for extreme mechanical resistance and
lightness)
• Defense and space industry

4.1 Nitrogen in C-Mn Steel

C – Mn steels are mainly used in the as rolled or normalized condition, and the well known
lower C types comprise ferrite – pearlite structures. In the formable mild steels, which in cold
rolled and annealed flat products contain spheroidised carbides, nitrogen has frequently been
seen as an embarrassment due to its ability to segregate to dislocations and dislocation
sources thereby introducing discontinuous yielding and more specifically strain ageing. Strain
ageing is detrimental for subsequent formability as it leads to stretcher strains. Due to its
higher solubility, nitrogen is predominantly responsible for strain ageing compared with
carbon. It can also be seen that Mn decreases strain ageing by interacting with nitrogen atoms
to form Mn-N clusters which restrict long range nitrogen diffusion. Mn also lowers the
nitrogen solubility. Other elements interact in this way with nitrogen, whilst others are such
strong nitride formers that they result in nitrides such as AlN and TiN being precipitated,
which considerably minimizes strain ageing by decreasing the dissolved nitrogen. However
some strain ageing of a formed component can be advantageous, the increased yield strength
conferring denting resistance. Al treated formability mild steels which are stabilized against
strain ageing do, however, show the advantage of the nitrogen content in that the precipitation
of AlN results in improved deep drawability[9-10].

In the structural C-Mn steels, nitrogen is used in conjunction with an Al treatment in order to
achieve a refined ferrite grain size which, together with the increased Mn content of 1.5%.,
results in increased yield strength and also improved toughness in terms of the ductile- brittle
transition temperature.

4.2 Nitrogen in microalloyed HSLA steel

There are three major property requirements for HSLA steels, namely high yield strength, a
low impact transition temperature and good weldability. The high yield strength and low
impact transition temperature are achieved basically through ferrite grain refinement, and
nitrogen has an effect on this. But nitrogen dissolved in the ferrite also influences the strength
and toughness, 0.01%N increasing the yield stress by 40MPa but increasing the impact
transition temperature by 70 – 100 oC[11]. This solid solution strengthening is relatively
small, especially as the solid solubility of nitrogen in ferrite is very limited, but the
embrittlement can be most market. Thus nitrogen dissolved in the ferrite must be minmised
which is done in the moicroalloyed steels by the additions of V, Nb or Ti, all of which form
stable nitrides. These nitrides have the ability to grain refine the austenite and thereby the
ferrite, to retard recrystallisation of the austenite by strain induced precipitation which allows
the implementation of controlled rolling processes which so condition the austenite that it
transforms to fine grained ferrite, and to precipitation strengthen the ferrite under appropriate
processing conditions when a much greater strengthening is achieved than by simple solid
solution[12]. The microalloy nitrides increase in stability and decrease in solubility in
austenite in the order VN, NbN, TiN [13].

Addition of nitrogen to microalloyed steels have been studied by Lagneborg [14] and many
authors[13]. The range of nitrogen studied lies below the stoichmetric level with respect to V.
For hot rolled steels it was found that the precipitation hardening increases linearly with W N ;
for normalized material, however, the precipitation strengthening structures at high N- levels

4
because of the increasing amount of V(C,N) remaining undissolved at the normalizeing
temperature.

Also, Lagneborg [14] studied the effect of nitrogen addition in Ti microalloyed steel. It was
found that the contents of Ti and N must be sufficiently low in absolute numbers and their
ratio must be close to stoichiometric or somewhat under stoichiometric with respect to Ti in
order to ensure a low precipitation temperature for TiN in the solid state during casting and
therefore fine precipitates.

4.3 Duplex stainless steel containing nitrogen

Duplex stainless steels (DSS) [15] which consist of approximately similar amounts of
austenite and ferrite are designed to combine the best features of austenitic and ferritic
stainless steels. They are present used in a wide range of products such as paper machines
and other pulp and paper industry machinery, pressure vessels, pipes and heat exchangers as
well as offshore application and chemical tankers.

One half [16] of the duplex microstrcture consist of δ – ferrite, which hardly dissolves
nitrogen, so that the remainder of austenite is enriched to almost twice the steel content. To
avoid embrittlement of the austenite [17] the N content of the steel should be kept below 0.5
mass % to allow for N partitioning. In face of the high Cr/N ratio this content is achievable
without pressure.

4.4 Austenitic stainless steel containing nitrogen

High nitrogen austenitic stainless steels with remarkable mechanical and corrosion properties
in solution annealed conditions can be produced even with conventional steel making
processes up to 0.4 wt. %N.

The high nitrogen austenitic stainless steels have (i) high YS, UTS and ductility as well as
fatigue strength and fracture toughness. (ii) high strain hardenability, (iii) high resistance to
strain- induced martensite formation, (iv) low magnetic permeability, and (v) favorable
localized corrosion properties[18].

4.5 Ferritic stainless steels containing nitrogen

Massively nitrogen-alloyed ferritic steels are the distinctly reduced carbon content in
combination with a much higher nitrogen level. Berns et al [19] found that the replacement of
carbon by nitrogen in a 12 %Cr steel influences the microstructure and the mechanical
properties. The nitrogen bearing steel with 0.01%C and 0.25%N shows higher hot strength
and higher short time creep resistance at improved toughness and ductility.

4.6 Nitrogen in martensitic stainless steels (MSS)

In martensitic steel nitrogen has a beneficial influence on its properties, both in solid solution,
i.e. low tempered martensite, and in the precipitated state, i.e. in the solidificated ledeburitic
microstructure as well as in the martensite tempered at temperatures beyond the secondary
hardness peak.

The beneficial of nitrogen in solid state is not to attain strength or hardness but improvement
of corrosion resistance.

5
Hans Berns [16] investigated the effect of replacing carbon by nitrogen in matensitic
stainless steel Cr17Ni2C0.2. It was found that replacing of nitrogen by carbon increases
toughness in the quenched and tempered state by 40 % because of less grain boundary
precipitation. This not only improved the behavior in service but reduced the risk of cracks in
large through-hardening cross-sections during quenching. In the polymer tooling applications
the resistance to pitting corrosion was considerably raised.

Pickering found that [20] addition of nitrogen to 12%Cr, 1.8%Mo, 0.3%V increase
tempering resistance. This is due to addition of nitrogen change Cr 7 C 3 into M 2 X based on
(FeCr)(CN), and thereafter intensifying M 2 X precipitation. And also, it was found that
addition of nitrogen to 18 - 25%Cr stainless steels, the interstitial elements carbon and
nitrogen both increase the strength. But decrease the ductility and especially the toughness.
However in the presence of Ti or Nb additions the nitrogen can be beneficial as it forms
Ti(CN) and Nb(CN) particles which inhibit grain growth. The finer the ferrite grain size, the
lower is the impact transition temperature, and the better the toughness.

4.7 Nitrogen steel of body friendly applications

Stainless steels are mainly used as bone implants with its relatively low cost, excellent
mechanical properties combination, good corrosion resistance and biocompatibility [21].
However, these traditional austenitic stainless steels (such as 316 L and 317L) may cause a
negative reaction due to the high nickel content (usually 10–14%) – due to about 10% of the
human population are liable to suffer from nickel allergy-[22].

In recent years, high nitrogen nickel free austenitic stainless steels have been developed as an
alternative material for medical application which exhibit attractive mechanical and
technological properties [23]. There are different grades containing nitrogen such as shape
memory alloy, tool steels,…etc.

5. Contribution of Steel Technology Department, CMRDI

In a study investigating the effect of direct quenching of low manganese steels

microaolloyed with V and Ti melted in open air, it was found that V-nitride is more effective
in producing high secondary hardening than V carbide[24].

TEM was used [25] to investigate the precipitation behaviour of nitrides of V & Ti in two
grades of microalloyed steels. Vanadium steel with carbon content ranging from 0.166 to
0.287, Mn from 1.161 to 1.185, Si from 0.405 to 0.579, Al from 0.026 to 0.056, Cu from
0.097 to 0.175, V from 0.120 to 0.152 and nitrogen from 0.0114 to 0.0124% and Ti steel
with 0.204%C, 1.395%Mn, 0.332%Si, 0.035%Al, 0.118%Ti, and 0.0137%N. Results showed
that in V-microalloyed steel there are three sizes of V – rich particles vanadium carbides or /
and vanadium carbonitrides at that time, they are coarse particles with diameter about 0.1 µm,
globular particles of about 20 nm and very fine particles about 5 nm. It must be mentioned
that TEM is difficult to differentiate between VC and VN.
For Ti steel, TEM showed that there is some coarse cuboidal Ti-nitride particles.

The effect of vanadium and nitrogen in low carbon (0.1%) manganese steel[26] showed that
vanadium microalloying increases the strength of steel through solely precipitation
strengthening or both precipitation strengthening and grain refining effect. The strengthening
effect of vanadium seems to have no negative effect on elongation. The effectiveness of
vanadium is greatly enhances by increasing the nitrogen content. Increment of 194 and 110

6
N/mm2 in the yield and ultimate tensile strengths, respectively, are attained by increasing the
nitrogen content from 0.015 to 0.025 % in a steel with a base composition of 1.8%Mn and
0.15%V. The grain refinement of vanadium/nitrogen microalloying seems to be due to
inhibition of austenite grain growth as a result of the precipitation of vanadium nitride in
austenite during forging. Precipitation strengthening of these steels is achieved by the
precipitation of vanadium carbide and nitride in ferrite or bainte. Up to 70% of the total
nitrogen content of steel precipitates as vanadium nitride which could be achieved with V/N
ratio of about 6-7.

By microalloying of low carbon-manganese steels with vanadium and nitrogen, high yield
strength up to 835 N/mm2 can be attained in the forging condition[26].

Replacement of nickel by nitrogen in stainless steel X45CrNiW18-9 was carried out using 10
kg induction furnace at different nitrogen pressure.
The nitrogen contents were determined and compared with those calculated using Institute of
Metal Science (IMS) eq.(1):
[ N %] − 188 3280
log = − 1.95757 − [ − 0.75] * log FN ∑ + log PN02.5
([5.1 − [ N %]) T T
(1)
The results showed [27-28] great deviations between the actual nitrogen contents and
predicted values through IMS eq. (1).
So, eq. (2) has been derived based on chemical composition, pressure and temperature at
1600oC, which is
[N%] = 0.0078 + 0.0406*X
(2)
where X is function of chemical composition and nitrogen pressure.
200 * [ Mn%] + 110 * [ Mo%] + 480 * [Cr %] + 15 * [W %] 1 / 2
X = * PN 2
1300 * [C %] + 490 * [ Si %] + 100 * [ Ni %] + 5 * [Cr ] 2

The results showed [29] that the partial replacement of nickel by nitrogen improves oxidation
behavior of Stainless steel grades. To determine the mechanism of oxidation process of
stainless steels at time regions 0-10 and 200-1000 hour the activation energy of oxidation
process was found to be between 62 – 103 K>J/mole, which means that the mechanism is
controlled by diffusion process. While at time region 10-200 can result from combined
mechanisms. It was also found, the mass gain decreases by increasing the replacement of
nickel by nitrogen up to certain content, by further replacement, the mass gain increase. This
illustrates the role of nickel in oxidation resistance. Nickel hinders the diffusion of oxygen
from outside to inside and also hinder the diffusion of chromium and iron from inside to
outside.

The phases of modified stainless steels have been investigated using Scheaffler diagram,
dilatometer and microstructure observations. Both partial and total replacement of nickel
using 0.33-0.50% nitrogen, were found to be effective to produce a modified fully austenitic
stainless steels X45CrNiW 18-9.

The yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the aged stainless steels were found to
increase at average rates of 706MPa/1 mass % nitrogen and 723 MPa/1mass % nitrogen,
respectively[30]. On the other hand, the increase of nitrogen content deteriorates the steel
ductility.

7
However, stainless steels, which have nickel content less than 4%, exhibit lower strength
compared with stainless steels containing higher nickel content (>5% Ni) [30]. It can be
concluded that partial and total replacement of nickel by nitrogen produce stainless steels
with stable phase as well as it improves the mechanical properties of austenitic stainless steels
at room temperatures.

Three steels with the same base composition were used for recent study[31], having different
nickel and nitrogen contents with nickel in the range 0.089 – 14.42 % and nitrogen 0.452 –
0.012%. The effect of soluble and insoluble nitrogen on mechanical properties of stainless
steels was studied. Reference steel containing 0.039%C, 1.64%Si, 1.62%Mn, 0.021%P,
0.0115%S, 20.24%Cr, 2.39%Mo, 14.42%Ni, and 0.012%N, and two developed steels having
the same base chemical composition of the reference steel except Ni and N contents were
used. One of the developed steels has 6.54%Ni and 0.232%N and the other has 0.452%N and
nearly nickel free (0.089%Ni).

The results [31] showed that microstructures of the reference and the developed stainless
steels were mainly austenitic phase. It was concluded that nitrogen content has significant
effect on grain refinement; insoluble nitrogen has more significant effect than soluble
nitrogen on grain refinement. Partial replacement or total replacement of nickel improves
yield and ultimate tensile strength. Elongation decreases with increasing reciprocal of square
root of grain size (1/D0.5). The hardness–of tempered stainless steel after solution treatment–
increases by increasing nitrogen content at temperatures of 1373,1423,and1473K. However,
it decreases by increasing solution treatment temperature due to enlargement of grain size as
soluble nitrogen increases accompanied by decrease in insoluble nitrogen (nitrides) with
increasing solution treatment temperatures. The actual factors, which control the mechanical
properties of nitrogen containing austenitic stainless steels may be summarized in the grain
boundary hardening, matrix strengthening, the solid solution strengthening and the
precipitation hardening. The difference between predicted and actual strength increases by
increasing insoluble nitrogen as a result of increasing the precipitation hardening. Insoluble
nitrogen is more significant than soluble nitrogen on grain boundary hardening.

The effect of nitrogen content of two types of stainless steels with the same base composition
except in nickel and nitrogen contents on the mechanical properties was investigated[32].
Reference and high nitrogen stainless steels were produced in open air in induction furnace.
The reference steel has 14.37%Ni and 0.010%N and the nitrogen stainless steel has
11.22%Ni and 0.122%N. Other alloying elements are 0.042 – 0.046%C, 0.69 – 0.95%Si, 1.37
– 1.38%Mn, 0.0172- 0.0182%P, 0.007 – 0.010%S, 18.65 – 18.80%Cr, 2.32 – 2.34%Mo.The
results showed that the partial replacement of nickel by nitrogen increase both yield and
ultimate tensile strength from 244 MPa and 517 MPa to 353 MPa and 683MPa with
insignificant change in elongation (changed from 55.4% to 54.5% for free and nitrogen
stainless steel respectively).

A new modified austenitic stainless steel has been developed through partial replacement of
nickel by nitrogen[33]. Nitrogen stainless steel was produced in 10kg induction furnace under
nitrogen pressure, while reference one, AISI316 steel grade, was produced in open-induction
furnace. The reference steel has 14.1%Ni and 0.010%N and the nitrogen stainless steel has
8.93%Ni and 0.379%N. Other alloying elements were 0.077 – 0.080%C, 1.44 – 1.53%Si,
1.41 – 1.24%Mn, 0.017- 0.024%P, 0.013%S, 17.98 – 17.61%Cr, 2.19 – 2.87%Mo. The
microstructure of produced stainless steels was observed. The X-ray difractmeter and
Mossbauer effect spectroscopy were used to follow the phase change in reference and

8
modified steel after deferent heat treatment temperatures. The influence of grain size, soluble,
and insoluble nitrogen on tensile strength and hardness was investigated. The major phase in
the modified steel has a fcc structure similar to the reference one, but with finer grains and
more expanded lattice. The yield strength and hardness of the nitrogen modified stainless
steel were higher than that of the reference one. On the other hand, the increase of nitrogen
content decreases the steel ductility to a certain extent.

The results of the previous study [33] showed that the partial replacement of nickel by
nitrogen increase both yield and ultimate tensile strength from 274 MPa and 552 MPa to 486
MPa and 824MPa but elongation decrease from 57% to 46% for the steel solution treated at
1100 oC. While the yield and ultimate tensile strength for solution treated steels at 1200 oC
increased from 253 MPa and 538 MPa to 418 MPa and 753MPa but elongation decrease from
60 % to 55.5%.

6. Conclusions
• In the past, nitrogen was considered as an enemy for steelmakers due to its
embrittelment effect
• On the other hand, the recent studies have attracted the attention of metallurgist to the
significant enhancement effect of nitrogen on mechanical, chemical and physical
properties of different steel grades.
• Some patents have been developed for producing high nitrogen steels in the
conventional open air steelmaking processes. On the other hand, other advanced
technologies have been used to produce steels with higher nitrogen contents, such as
pressurised induction furnace, pressurised electro slag remelting, powder metallurgy
methods and mechanical alloying. Also, there are different techniques to surface
steels and stainless steels by nitrogen such as nitriding (gaseous and plasma), and
laser .
• The high nitrogen steel has found application in many steel grades such as structural
steel, HSLA steel, austenitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, martensitic stainless
steel, shape memory steel, duplex stainless steel,..etc.
• The research staff of Steel Technology Department, CMRDI, has many contributions
in the field of high nitrogen steels. In their studies, they used both open air and
controlled atmosphere technologies for production of several grades of steels
containing nitrogen.

Acknowledgement
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all staff members of Steel Technology Department,
Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute ( CMRDI) for their sincere help.

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Steels” Advances in Theory of Ironmaking and Steelmaking Conf. 2009, Department
of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560012, India, 9-11
December (2009)

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 28. Saeed N. Ghali, and Mamdouh M. Eissa: "Solubility of nitrogen in steel"
International Conference on Materials Imperative in the New Millennium (MINM
2010), 29Nov. – 2Dec., Cairo, Egypt, (2010).
29. Saeed Ghali, Fathy Baiomy and Mamdouh Eissa, Investigation the effect of nitrogen
on oxidation behavior of stainless steel, 7th European Stainless Steel Conference
Science and Market, Como (Italy), 21-23 Sept. (2011)
30. Saeed N. Ghali, Mamdouh M. Eissa, Hoda S. Rabie, Taha M. Mattar and Ayman M.
Fathy: "Influence of heat treatment on mechanical properties of stainless steels" 1st
Mediterranean Conference on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering, 1-3 Dec.,
Sharm El-Shikh, Egypt, (2009)
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int. 83(2012) No. 9999, DOI:10.1002/srin. 201200152,(2012).
32. Project entitled: Commercialization of Ferromanganese Nitrogen Alloy, 2009-2010,
funded from Research and Development Innovation programme, EU-Egypt
Innovation Fund (2010)
33. Ahmed, A, Ghali, S.N., Eissa, M. and El Badry, S. A.: Influence of partial
replacement of nickel by nitrogen on microstructure and mechanical properties of
austenitic stainless steel, Journal of Metallurgy, Vol. 2011, article ID 639283, 6
pages, doi: 10.1155/2011/639283(2011)

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