Production of Nitrogen-Bearing Stainless Steel by Injecting Nitrogen Gas

To replace nickel-based stainless steel, a nitrogen-bearing stainless steel was produced to lower the production cost stemming from the shortage of nickel recourses. Thermodynamic model to calculate the saturated nitrogen content in the stainless steel was developed and the model was validated by experimental measurements performed with a high temperature induction furnace. Nitrogen gas under constant pressure was injected into the molten steel with a top lance. Thus, the nitrogen was transferred to the molten stainless steel. The effects of chemical composition, temperature, superficial active elements and nitrogen flow rate on the transfer of nitrogen to the steel were investigated and discussed. The results showed that the dissolution rate of nitrogen in the molten steel increases with a higher temperature and larger nitrogen flow rate but decreases significantly with an increase in the content of surface-active elements. Alloying elements such as chromium and manganese having a negative interaction coefficient can increase the dissolution of nitrogen in the molten steel. It was also proposed that the primary factor affecting the final saturated nitrogen content is temperature rather than the dissolved oxygen content.