| abstract |
A ferritic non-ridging stainless steel and process therefor. A chromium alloyed steel melt is deoxidized with a sub-equilibrium amount of titanium and nitrogen and continuously cast into a strip or a slab or cast into an ingot having an as-cast fine equiaxed microstructure substantially free of columnar grains. The as-cast steel contains </=0.010% Al, up to 0.08% C, 0.10-1.50% Mn, </=0.05% N, </=1.5% Si, 8-25% Cr, <2.0% Ni and is deoxidized with titanium, all percentages by weight, the balance Fe and residual elements. Preferably, the titanium is controlled so that (Ti/48)/[(C/12)+(N/14)]>1.5. A hot processed continuous sheet may be formed from a continuously cast slab without surface grinding, may be descaled, cold reduced to a final thickness and recrystallization annealed. An anneal prior to cold reduction is not required to obtain an annealed sheet essentially free of ridging. |