An austenitic stainless steel excellent in high temperature strength, high temperature
ductility and hot workability, consisting of, by mass %, C: more than 0.05% to
0.15%, Si: 2% or less, Mn: 0.1 to 3%, P: 0.04% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Cr: more
than 20% to less than 28%, Ni: more than 15% to 55%, Cu: more than 2% to 6%, Nb:
0.1 to 0.8%, V: 0.02 to 1.5%, sol. Al: 0.001 to 0.1%, but sol.Al0.4N,
N: more than 0.05% to 0.3% and O (Oxygen): 0.006% or less, but O1/(60Cu),
and the balance Fe and impurities. The austenitic stainless steel may contain at
least one of Co, Mo, W, Ti, B, Zr, Hf, Ta, Re, Ir, Pd, Pt and Ag, and/or at least
one of Mg, Ca, Y, La, Ce, Nd and Sc.
