Patent attributes
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a ferritic-austenitic stainless steel having good formability, good weldability and high elongation. The stainless steel containing the sum of carbon and nitrogen C+N in the range 0.17-0.295 in weight % in which sum C+N a lower carbon content to avoid sensitisation during welding is compensated by an increased nitrogen content to maintain formability is heat treated so that the microstructure of the stainless steel contains 45-75% austenite in the heat treated condition, the remaining microstructure being ferrite, and the measured Md30 temperature of the stainless steel is adjusted between 0 and 50° C. in order to utilize the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) for improving the formability of the stainless steel.
