Abstract: An low-nickel austenitic stainless alloy containing about 16.5 to about 17.5% by weight chromium; about 6.4 to about 8.0% by weight manganese; about 2.5 to about 5.0% by weight nickel; about 2.0 to less than about 3.0% by weight copper; less than about 0.15% by weight carbon; less than about 0.2% by weight nitrogen; less than about 1% by weight silicon; and the balance essentially iron with incidental impurities.

Abstract: A method of pretreating and hot-dip coating aluminum or aluminum alloys on a chromium-containing steel strip to provide an improved coating comprising annealing final gauge steel strip in an oxygen excess atmosphere to produce a chromium-rich oxide on the surface and thereafter electrolytically descaling the strip in an aqueous salt solution to remove the oxide and to expose a chromium depleted surface of the strip. The strip is then transported to a coating line where it is heated to a temperature at or above the temperature of a bath of aluminum or aluminum alloy. A substantially hydrogen atmosphere is maintained over the bath while the dew point is maintained below minus 35.degree. C. The strip is then drawn through the bath to coat the strip.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel particularly adapted for low temperature applications and having good low temperature properties; the steel consists essentially of, in weight percent, carbon 0.03 max., manganese 6.4 to 7.5, silicon up to 1%, chromium 16 to 17.5, nickel 4 to 5.0, copper up to 1%, nitrogen 0.13 to 0.20, and balance iron. The steel is characterized by minimum properties of 17% minimum elongation, 0.025 inch lateral expansion and tensile strength of 175,000 psi at a temperature of -320.degree. F. and an M.sub.d30 temperature of -10.degree. C. or lower.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a nickel-chromium-molybdenum austenitic stainless steel in heavy section sizes and in welded article form substantially free of second phase precipitation from annealing and welding temperatures. The method includes providing nitrogen additions and annealing at temperatures of less than 2100.degree. F., preferably less than 2000.degree. F.