CarTech 18Cr-2Ni-12Mn is a high-manganese, nitrogen-strengthened austenitic stainless steel that provides substantially higher yield and tensile strengths than CarTech 304 stainless and has general-corrosion resistance between that of CarTech 430 and CarTech 304 stainless. The corrosion resistance of CarTech 18Cr-2Ni-12Mn approaches that of CarTech 304 in some environments. It can be welded, machined and cold worked using the same equipment and methods used for the conventional 300 series austenitic stainless steels. The alloy is nonmagnetic in the annealed condition and remains nonmagnetic after cold working to high-strength levels. CarTech 18Cr-2Ni-12Mn provides an excellent combination of toughness, ductility, strength, corrosion resistance and fabricability.

CarTech 18Cr-2Ni-12Mn has been used for applications where corrosion resistance approaching CarTech 304 is adequate but where the strength or magnetic permeability to CarTech 304, after cold working, is unsuitable. CarTech 18Cr-2Ni-12Mn has been used in such applications as weld studs, self-tapping screws, industrial screens, springs, wire products, antenna, cables, pole line hardware, worm screws, and pump shafts.