Correlation of austenite stability and ductile-to-brittle transition behavior of high-nitrogen 18Cr-10Mn austenitic steels

► In high-nitrogen austenitic steels, ductile-to-brittle transition occurs. ► Some metastable austenites in the steels are transformed to α′-martensite. ► Deformation-induced martensite transformation decreases low-temperature toughness. ► Reduction of austenite stability increases ductile-to-brittle transition temperature.