Glossary
Heat treatments for stainless steels

hypertrempe; annealing solution

Quality treatment specific to ferritic, austenitic and austeno-ferritic stainless steels, consisting of dissolving precipitates (chromium carbonitrides, any embrittling phases) followed by cooling fast enough to prevent them from reforming.

alphagenic element; ferrite stabilizer

Element favoring the presence of ferrite (Cr, Mo, Si, Al, Ti, Nb, V).

gammagenic element; austenite stabilizer

Element favoring the presence of austenite (Ni, C, N, Cu, Mn), the role of manganese being more debatable (it can be considered neutral or even alphagenic under certain conditions).