HIGH NITROGEN STEEL POWDER AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

Provided are methods and devices for forming high nitrogen steel. The processes include heating a steel precursor to a temperature that transforms the steel into an austenite of FCC wherein the heating is in a nitrogen containing atmosphere. After an optional nitrogen uptake time, the precursor is further heated to a temperature above the TγN of the steel yet below the melting point of the steel thereby preserving a solid and creating a solid solution of nitrogen. The second temperature is optionally maintained for a nitride conversion time, optionally wherein the nitride conversion time is too short to result in sintering of the steel. The process further includes rapid quenching of the precursor powder to maintain the nitrogen solid solution and prevent nitride formation thereby forming a high nitrogen steel with little to no nitride content and including nitrogen in solid solution.