Austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

Embodiments of an austenitic stainless steel include, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; greater than 1.5 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; iron; and incidental impurities. Certain other embodiments of an austenitic stainless steel include, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; up 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; iron; and incidental impurities.

1 . An austenitic stainless steel comprising, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; greater than 1.5 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         2 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , wherein the steel comprises 1.6 to 4.0 weight percent manganese, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         3 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: greater than 0 to 0.50 silicon; greater than 0 to 0.30 aluminum; greater than 0 to 0.02 sulfur; greater than 0 to 0.05 phosphorus; greater than 0 to 0.1 zirconium; and greater than 0 to 0.1 vanadium.  
     
     
         4 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of titanium and aluminum is limited to no greater than 0.1 weight percent, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         5 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of niobium to carbon in the steel satisfies the formula  
         0.7<0.13 (niobium/carbon)≦1.0,  
       wherein the niobium and carbon contents in the formula are expressed in atom percentages.  
     
     
         6 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , comprising, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; greater than 1.5 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.30 aluminum; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         7 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 6 , wherein the steel comprises 1.6 to 4.0 weight percent manganese, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         8 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of titanium and aluminum is limited to no greater than 0.1 weight percent, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         9 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , wherein the steel consists essentially of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; greater than 1.5 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.30 aluminum; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         10 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 9 , wherein the steel consists essentially of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen;  20  to  23  chromium;  25  to  27  nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; 1.6 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.30 aluminum; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         11 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of titanium and aluminum is limited to no greater than 0.1 weight percent, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         12 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 1 , wherein the steel consists of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; greater than 1.5 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.30 aluminum; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         13 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 12 , wherein the steel consists of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; 1.6 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.30 aluminum; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         14 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of titanium and aluminum is limited to no greater than 0.1 weight percent, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         15 . An article of manufacture including an austenitic stainless steel comprising, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; greater than 1.5 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; up to 0.1 titanium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the austenitic stainless comprises 1.6 to 4.0 weight percent manganese, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the austenitic stainless further comprises at least one of the following, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: greater than 0 to 0.50 silicon; greater than 0 to 0.30 aluminum; greater than 0 to 0.02 sulfur; greater than 0 to 0.05 phosphorus; greater than 0 to 0.1 zirconium; and greater than 0 to 0.1 vanadium.  
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture, wherein at least one of titanium and aluminum in the austenitic stainless steel is limited to no greater than 0.1 weight percent, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the article of manufacture is one of an energy generation device and a device for processing or treating at least one of a chemical, a mineral, or an alloy.  
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the article of manufacture is selected from the group consisting of a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a fuel cell, and parts for any of those articles.  
     
     
         21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the article of manufacture is a device or part that receives gases used or generated by an energy generation device.  
     
     
         22 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the article of manufacture is one of a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger part, a recuperator, and recuperator part.  
     
     
         23 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein the article of manufacture is a part of a device adapted for at least one of: 
 processing at high temperature at least one of a chemical, a mineral, and an alloy;    treating at high temperature at least one of a chemical, a mineral, and an alloy; or    extracting at high temperature at least one of a chemical and a mineral.    
     
     
         24 . An austenitic stainless steel comprising, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; up 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         25 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 24 , wherein the steel comprises 1.6 to 4.0 weight percent manganese, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         26 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one of the following, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: greater than 0 to 0.50 silicon; greater than 0 to 0.02 sulfur; greater than 0 to 0.05 phosphorus; greater than 0 to 0.1 zirconium; and greater than 0 to 0.1 vanadium.  
     
     
         27 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 24 , wherein the ratio of niobium to carbon in the steel satisfies the formula  
         0.7<0.13 (niobium/carbon)≦1.0,  
       wherein the niobium and carbon contents in the formula are expressed in atom percentages.  
     
     
         28 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 24 , wherein the steel consists essentially of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; up to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         29 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 24 , wherein the steel consists essentially of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; 1.6 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         30 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 24 , wherein the steel consists of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; up to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         31 . The austenitic stainless steel of  claim 30 , wherein the steel consists of, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; 1.6 to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; up to 0.50 silicon; up to 0.02 sulfur; up to 0.05 phosphorus; up to 0.1 zirconium; up to 0.1 vanadium; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         32 . An article of manufacture including an austenitic stainless steel comprising, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: 0.05 to 0.2 carbon; 0.08 to 0.2 nitrogen; 20 to 23 chromium; 25 to 27 nickel; 1 to 2 molybdenum; up to 4.0 manganese; 0.20 to 0.75 niobium; at least one of no greater than 0.1 titanium and no greater than 0.1 aluminum; iron; and incidental impurities.  
     
     
         33 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the austenitic stainless comprises 1.6 to 4.0 weight percent manganese, based on total weight of the steel.  
     
     
         34 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the austenitic stainless further comprises at least one of the following, in weight percentages based on total weight of the steel: greater than 0 to 0.50 silicon; greater than 0 to 0.02 sulfur; greater than 0 to 0.05 phosphorus; greater than 0 to 0.1 zirconium; and greater than 0 to 0.1 vanadium.  
     
     
         35 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the article of manufacture is one of an energy generation device and a device for processing or treating at least one of a chemical, a mineral, or an alloy.  
     
     
         36 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the article of manufacture is selected from the group consisting of a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a fuel cell, and parts for any of those articles.  
     
     
         37 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the article of manufacture is a device or part that receives gas streams used or generated by an energy generation device.  
     
     
         38 . The article of manufacture of  claim 37 , wherein the article of manufacture is one of a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger part, a recuperator, and a recuperator part.  
     
     
         39 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the article of manufacture is a device or part of a device adapted for at least one of: 
 processing at high temperature at least one of a chemical, a mineral, and an alloy;    treating at high temperature at least one of a chemical, a mineral, and an alloy; or    extracting at high temperature at least one of a chemical and a mineral.