Effect of nitrogen on the electron structure and stacking fault energy in austenitic steels

Stacking fault energy γ and density of states at the Fermi level D(EF) are measured in CrMnN and CrNiMnN austenitic steels using transmission electron microscopy and conduction electron spin resonance. An inverse proportionality between γ and D(EF) is found in CrMnN, whereas a direct proportionality occurs in CrMnNiN steels. A comparison with the available data on pure metals is presented.