Nitrogen and Carbon in Austenitic and Martensitic Steels: Atomic Interactions and Structural Stability

The effect of nitrogen and carbon on the structure of austenitic and martensitic steels is discussed. A correlation is shown between the electronic structure, atomic distribution and thermodynamic stability of Fe-based alloys. An increase in stability of solid solutions and a delay of precipitation is observed in the order of alloying with carbonRTnitrogenRTcarbon+nitrogen. Experimental data are presented for C, N and C+N steels.