Patent 7731895 was granted and assigned to Sumitomo Metal Industries on June, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
An austenitic stainless steel improved in creep strength, creep ductility, weldability and also hot workability. The steel, consisting of, by mass %, C: 0.05-0.15%, Si: not more than 2%, Mn: 0.1-3%, P: 0.05-0.30%, S: not more than 0.03%, Cr: 15-28%, Ni: 8-55%, Cu: 0-3.0%, Ti: 0.05-0.6%, REM: 0.001-0.5%, sol. Al: 0.001-0.1%, N: not more than 0.03%, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities. This steel may contain one or more of Mo, W, B, Nb, V, Co, Zr, Hf, Ta, Mg and Ca. It is preferable that REM is Nd.