By using nitrogen to replace the scarce and expensive nickel, Beichong Group has successfully developed high-nitrogen non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel products. The seawater environment remains stable

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According to Beichong Group, its special steel division has recently made significant progress in the research and development of high-nitrogen non-magnetic stainless steels. The high-nitrogen non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel products developed by this division have a nitrogen content of over 0.85%. This breakthrough fills the technical gap in the field of atmospheric-pressure melting of high-nitrogen stainless steels in China. The Special Steel Division of Beichong Group has carried out in-depth technical cooperation with universities and research institutions, jointly overcoming the global technical challenge related to the engineering-scale production of alloys with high nitrogen content under atmospheric pressure. This technology uses nitrogen to replace the scarce and expensive nickel, enabling the stable production of high-nitrogen non-magnetic stainless steel with a nitrogen content of over 0.85% without the need for high-pressure equipment. It offers higher safety during the production process and allows for industrial-scale mass production. It is understood that the high-nitrogen, non-magnetic stainless steel developed this time boasts excellent comprehensive properties; its strength far exceeds that of traditional austenitic stainless steels, and it exhibits outstanding corrosion resistance, particularly showing stability in complex environments such as seawater. Moreover, it maintains good toughness even after cold working, which results in a significant increase in strength. It can be used to manufacture tubes, sheets, and bars, fully meeting the stringent requirements of high-end fields such as national defense and military industries, offshore equipment, and chemical processing equipment. In terms of developmental value and economic value, this technological achievement is of great significance. In terms of economic value, replacing the scarce nickel resource with nitrogen significantly reduces raw material costs ； The normal-pressure smelting process simplifies the workflow, reduces equipment costs, and is safer compared to the pressure-smelting process. At the same time, the excellent wear and corrosion resistance of these materials helps to extend the lifespan of key components, reducing maintenance costs for end-users and thereby enabling cost savings and improved efficiency in applications. In terms of development value, such products can be applied in key fields such as deep-sea equipment and ships, thereby helping China overcome the bottleneck problem related to high-end materials.