The high-temperature performance of the nitrogen added 316L stainless
steels including the high-temperature mechanical properties, workability and
weldability have been investigated in detail by systematic studies with nitrogen
contents in the range of 0.07-0.22wt.%. Strength and creep resistance were found to
increase with increasing nitrogen content at room and elevated temperatures. However,
resistance to creep-fatigue damage, fracture toughness, resistance to fatigue crack
growth, workability, and weldability were found to degrade beyond 0.14wt% of
nitrogen content at service temperature. Therefore, the maximum nitrogen content in
316L stainless steel is recommended to be 0.14wt% for better high-temperature
performance in structural applications of fast reactors.
Keywords: Creep, Creep-fatigue interaction, Dynamic materials model, Fracture toughness, Fatigue crack growth, Fractographs, Hot cracking, Nitrogen alloying, Tensile properties, Workability, Weldability, 316LN Stainless Steel.
