Effect of heat treatment of the stability of austenite in steel Kh16N6 cooled to −296°C

1. Quenching of steel Kh16N6 from 1000–1200° followed by cold treatment and tempering produces a stable structure with a given amount of martensite (from 30 to 80%) that is retained down to −269°. 2. With quenching from 1000–1200° and holding for 30 min the grain growth is negligible; the average grain size is 30–40 μ.