High nitrogen stainless steel alloys provide new opportunities. (News Briefs).During a project on the development of sensors for the powder metallurgy industry, NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, DC, www.nist.gov) The standards-defining agency of the U.S. government, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. It is one of three agencies that fall under the Technology Administration (www.technology. has developed a technique for production of nitrogenated stainless steel stainless steel: see steel.stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. alloys with enhanced corrosion and mechanical properties. Discussions with metal powder producers are underway to develop commercial powder metallurgy alloys using the NIST process that will find applications in biomedical bi·o·med·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to biomedicine. 2. Of, relating to, or involving biological, medical, and physical sciences. implant devices, light-weight armor plate, and other demanding environments. NIST developed this technique through work on a model for prediction of nitrogen solubility and microstructure mi·cro·struc·ture n. The structure of an organism or object as revealed through microscopic examination. microstructure Noun a structure on a microscopic scale, such as that of a metal or a cell in modified 300 series stainless steel alloys. The new powder metallurgy nitrogenated stainless steel alloys are single phase (austenite aus·ten·ite n. A nonmagnetic solid solution of ferric carbide or carbon in iron, used in making corrosion-resistant steel. [After Sir William Chandler Roberts-Austen (1843-1902), British metallurgist. ) with no tendency to form the embrittling nitride and sigma phase compounds often found in high nitrogen stainless steels. The unique microstructure results in consolidated parts with superior corrosion and mechanical properties compared to commercially available wrought alloys, and reduced costs compared to other powder metallurgy nitrogenated stainless steel alloys. Three NIST scientists were awarded U.S. Patent 6,168,755 for the development. CONTACT: Frank Biancaniello, (301) 975-6177; frank.biancaniello@nist.gov. |
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