The structure and properties of austenitic stainless steels are reviewed, with emphasis on their low-temperature behavior. Austenite, ferrite, body-centered cubic and hexagonal closedpacked martensite, stacking-fault energy, carbides, and sigma phase are described. Recent international development of higher strength, tougher austenitic stainless steels is summarized. This chapter discusses the effect of martensite phase transformations on the stress-strain characteristics, as well as nitrogen strengthening and strengthening theory based on lattice-parameter and elastic-property data, all at low temperatures. INTRODUCTION Rustproof steels, with increased passivity, were discovered at the turn of the century. These new steels, called stainless steels, are characterized by high Cr (> 10%*) and low C (< 0.3%). Research beginning in 1904 by Guillet (1904-1014, France), 1 followed by Portevin (1909-1912, France), 2 Giesen (1909, England), 3 and Monnartz (1911, Germany) 4 led to an understanding of the corrosion behavior of Fe-Cr-C alloys. During the same period, Guillet (1906) 5 and Giesen (1909) 3 published studies of Fe-Cr-Ni austenitic stainless steels. Clearly, the objective of these early studies was to develop a rustproof or corrosion-resistant alloy. Since then, an enormous amount of research has been directed toward understanding and improving the properties of Fe-Cr-Ni alloys. From their initial use as cutlery, the applications of these steels have broadened considerably, along with their compositions. Only two criteria determine whether steels are classified as stainless (or rustproof or pitless) Fe base element and about HCr or more. This broad classification is divided into six principal subclasses: Weight percent is used, unless otherwise specified.