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Alleima® HighN50 is a high-strength, non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel strengthened by nitrogen in a stable Z-phase. It delivers an exceptional combination of mechanical strength and corrosion resistance, enabling reliable performance in demanding environments.

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Elevating strength and corrosion resistance: Introducing Alleima®HighN50 bar for high-performance applications

The article introduces Alleima® HighN50 bar, an advanced austenitic stainless steel (XM 19/UNS S20910) engineered for exceptional strength, corrosion resistance, and non magnetic properties. The article also highlights Alleima’s efforts to standardize production for consistent quality and explains the complexity of the market due to varying manufacturing terms and processes.

Elevating strength and corrosion resistance: Introducing Alleima®HighN50 bar for high-performance applications

What is Alleima® HighN50 Bar?

Its yield strength is 2–4 times higher than standard 316 grades, and its Pitting Resistance Equivalent (PRE) number is 34, which is comparable to standard duplex 2205-type grades. This unique combination of strength and corrosion resistance is unmatched in standard austenitic materials, making it ideal for use in challenging environments such as marine, fasteners, and chemical processing. The diagram below shows a comparison of tensile strength between 316L, HighN50-A and HighN50-HS.

a graph of different colored bars

Alleima® HighN50 is commonly known as XM-19, the generic designation defined in ASTM A479 / ASME SA479. It is also marketed in the industry as Nitronic® 50, a trademark of AK Steel. While these materials share the same UNS designation, S20910, their performance characteristics can differ depending on production route and delivery condition.

Alleima® HighN50 is engineered to provide greater design freedom. It is available in both annealed and hot-rolled conditions, in various sizes, offering different strength levels to meet specific performance requirements. This enables engineers to select a material solution tailored to their application—optimizing strength, corrosion resistance, and manufacturability—rather than compromising the design to accommodate the material.

The Alleima® bar offer ASTM A479 reference
Alleima® HighN50-A Annealed
Alleima® HighN50-HS Hot rolled
No option Strain hardened
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Standardized definitions

Within ASTM A479, Type XM-19 is defined in three delivery conditions, each with clearly specified mechanical property requirements:

  • Annealed
    Produced by rolling or forging followed by separate solution annealing.
  • Hot rolled
    Manufactured using various hot working processes.
  • Strain hardened
    Achieved through additional processing steps such as cold working.

Each condition has defined mechanical strength levels according to the standard, providing a clear and reliable basis for material selection.

Non-standardized terminology in the market

In the market, a range of strength-related terms is often used, such as:

  • HS – High Strength
  • SHS – Super High Strength
  • UHS – Ultra High Strength

These designations are not defined in any international standard. As a result, strength levels associated with HS, SHS, or UHS can vary significantly between manufacturers, depending on their internal definitions and processing routes.

This lack of standardization makes direct comparison difficult and increases reliance on manufacturer-specific data or references to standards such as ASTM A479 when evaluating material suitability.

Alleima® HighN50-A
Bar

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Alleima® HighN50-HS
Bar

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Alleima product availability

To support different design and performance needs, Alleima® HighN50 is available in two delivery conditions:

  • HighN50-A – annealed condition
  • HighN50-HS – high-strength condition

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The following is an overview of Alleima's product availability for our Alleima® HighN50 variants:

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Some typical examples

HighN50-A

  • Shafts
  • Pump & Valve component

HighN50-HS

  • Fasteners
  • Screws / Bolts
  • Nuts

Market Applications

Alleima® HighN50 bars are well-suited for demanding applications across various industries, including:

  • Marine axels
  • Pumps, valves
  • Fasteners
  • Fittings
  • Hydrogen equipment
  • Oil & Gas downhole /
    sour service
  • Process industry equipment
  • Pulp and paper industry

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