Abstract: The invention provides a nickel-free and cobalt-free, rust-proof austenitic steel, which meets the requirements, necessary in dentistry, concerning its corrosion resistance, its thermal expansion coefficient, its mechanical properties and its castability. For this purpose, the steel consists of, in % by mass, C: >0.2-0.8%, N: 0.3-1.3%, Si: ?2.0%, Mn: 14-30%, Cr: 17-27%, Mo: 0-6%, W: 0-6%, Nb: 0-6%, Ga: 0-6%, Ta 0-6%, the remainder being iron and unavoidable impurities. The content of impurities complies with the stipulations in DIN EN ISO 22674:2016-09 for dental materials. The steel composed has an austenitic structure, an offset yield strength Rp0.2 of at least 230 MPa, a percent elongation A of more than 5%, and a modulus of elasticity of at least 150 GPa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal powder intended for use in an additive manufacturing process, which consists of steel particles having an average diameter of 5-150 ?m and consisting of, in mass %, C: 0.15-1.0%, N: 0.15-1.0%, Si, 0.1-2.0%, Mn: 10-25%, Cr: 5-21%, Mo: 0.1-3.0%, Ni: ?5%, remainder of iron and unavoidable impurities. The metal powder has a flow rate determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4490 of less than 30 sec/50 g. Using a metal powder according to the invention, reliable high-load-bearing components can be produced by additive manufacturing. Accordingly, a metal powder according to the invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of machine elements that are exposed to high loads and of medical components that are used in or on the human or animal body. The invention also provides a method which reliably allows components with optimised mechanical properties to be manufactured from metal powder according to the invention on the basis of an additive manufacturing process.