AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL AND PROCESS FOR HYDROGEN REMOVAL THEREOF

摘要

The present invention focuses on diffusible hydrogen and non-diffusible hydrogen that cause hydrogen embrittlement in an austenitic stainless steel, and provides the austenitic stainless steel having diffusible hydrogen and non-diffusible hydrogen removed therefrom, and a method for removing hydrogen therefrom. In order to remove diffusible hydrogen and non-diffusible hydrogen, which cause hydrogen embrittlement in the austenitic stainless steel, an aging treatment is performed to the austenitic stainless steel at a temperature ranging from 200 to 1100°C while being kept in an air atmosphere. As a result, the hydrogen (H) content in the austenitic steel is removed to 0.001 wt% (1 wt ppm) or less.