Low nickel, nitrogen stabilized austenitic stainless steel has not been explored for its application in the temperature range of 400–700 °C. In the present investigation, nitrogen stabilized austenitic stainless steel (Fe–18Cr–21Mn–0.65 N) was oxidized cyclically from 400 to 700 °C up to 100 h. The effect of moist airflow on oxidation behavior from 400 to 700 °C was systematically studied gravimetrically and the oxidized surfaces were characterized using SEM(EDS) and XRD. Mn diffused from the matrix to surface and reacted with the oxygen associated with the passive chromia layer and formed non-protective Mn₂O₃ and spinels of the oxides of Fe, Cr and Mn. At 700 °C, there was rapid vaporization of Cr and consequent reduction in weight gain in dynamic air as compared with that in static air. Precipitation of Cr₂N of different morphology was established through TEM analysis.

低镍，氮稳定的奥氏体不锈钢尚未在400–700°C的温度范围内应用。在本研究中，氮稳定的奥氏体不锈钢（Fe–18Cr–21Mn–0.65 N）在400至700°C的温度下循环氧化100小时。通过重量分析系统地研究了湿气流对400至700°C氧化行为的影响，并使用SEM（EDS）和XRD表征了氧化表面。Mn从基体扩散到表面，并与与被动氧化铬层相关的氧反应，形成非保护性Mn ₂ O ₃Fe，Cr和Mn氧化物的尖晶石。在700°C下，与静态空气相比，动态空气中的Cr迅速汽化，因此重量增加减少。通过TEM分析确定了不同形态的Cr ₂ N的析出。