Austenitic wear resistant steel and method for heat treatment thereof

A method for producing a wear resisting steel alloyed with magnesium having a ductile austenitic microstructure, wherein said steel contains carbon, silicon, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten in the following contents:

• ______________________________________ Carbon 1.0 to 1.5%, Silicon 0.3 to 1.5%, Manganese 11.0 to 21.0% Chromium 0.0 to 4.0%, Molybdenum 0.0 to 3.0%, and Tungsten 0.0 to 2.0%, ______________________________________
• and as additional alloying elements nitrogen and at least one of vanadium, titanium and niobium in the following contents:
• ______________________________________ Nitrogen 0.05 to 0.35%, Vanadium 0.10 to 0.60%, Titanium 0.10 to 0.50%, and Niobium 0.10 to 0.30%, ______________________________________
• and the balance being iron and normal quantities of impurities, said method consisting essentially of melting and casting said steel wherein carbide, nitride and carbonitride precipitates are formed therein, solution heating treating the cast steel at a temperature under 1100.degree. C. and partially dissolving said carbide, nitride and carbonitride precipitates present therein, and rapidly cooling the solution heat-treated steel.