Abstract: An austenitic steel alloy has a composition of about 6 to 13 percent aluminum, 20 to 34 percent manganese, 0.2 to 1.4 percent carbon, 0.4 to 1.3 percent silicon, and the balance essentially iron. The relative quantities of the foregoing elements are selected from these ranges to produce a volume percent of ferrite structure in the alloy in the range of about 1 percent to about 8 percent. The volume percent of ferrite is determined by the empirical formula1<VPF=32+2.6(Al %.+-.0.08)+5.2(Si %.+-.0.03)-1.6 (Mn %.+-.0.16)-8.5 (C %.+-.0.03)<8Excluded from the range of alloys of this invention are alloys of the composition (30.+-.1) % Mn, (9.+-.0.35) % Al, (1.+-.0.05) % Si and (1.+-.0.05) % C, with the balance being iron.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel alloy has a composition of about 6 to about 13 percent aluminum, about 7 to about 34 percent manganese, about 0.2 to about 2.4 percent carbon, 0.4 to about 1.3 percent silicon, about 0 to about 6 percent chromium, about 0.5 to about 6 percent nickel, and the balance essentially iron. The relative quantities of the foregoing elements are selected from these ranges to produce a volume percent of ferrite structure in the alloy in the range of about 1 percent to about 8 percent.

Abstract: A method for ingot casting using a vertical, open-ended mold removably positioned on a mold stool, a closed-bottom mold or a plug-bottom mold wherein steel particles are used to fill a relieved portion of the bottom typically resulting from erosion thereof during casting; a metal plate is used to close this relieved portion, thereby preventing comingling of the steel particles and metal being cast; this practice prolongs the life of mold stools and mold bottoms without requiring expensive replacement.