6. Conclusion

The various heat or thermomechanical treatments practicable on stainless steel have been described in some detail in this article, with particular emphasis on the metallurgical aspects.

Recent and foreseeable short-term developments in stainless steels seem to us to be as follows.

In the case of austenitic-ferritic grades, the aim is to lower the alphagenic element content in order to minimize the embrittlement described in paragraphs 1.2.1.1