Austenitic CrMnN stainless steels have been developed as alternative with improved mechanical properties to replace austenitic CrNi stainless steels in certain applications. Stainless steels are often used in highly corrosive environments such as hot chloride solutions. In contradiction to CrNi stainless steels there are only very limited data available on corrosion fatigue of CrMnN steels in such environments.
The investigated stainless steel contains 18% Chromium, 21% Manganese and 0.66% Nitrogen. Manganese is used to stabilize the austenitic lattice instead of Nickel and to increase the solubility of nitrogen, which also stabilizes the austenitic structure. S-N-curves were recorded on electrochemical polished samples in inert glycerine as a reference medium and in 62 vol-% CaCl2 solution, both at a temperature of 120°C.