Bright annealing of stainless steels

摘要

A process for bright annealing of chromium containing alloys such as stainless steels in an atmosphere of nitrogen and hydrogen containing controlled additions of an inhibitor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,938 wherein at least one element provided at the surface of the article being annealed in an amount such that it is oxidized in preference to the chromium in said article, whereby nitrogen uptake is inhibited and dulling of the metal surface by formation of a film containing chromium oxide is avoided.