The invention provides a super hard and tough, nano-crystal austenite
steel bulk material having an improved corrosion resistance, and its
preparation process.The austenite steel bulk material comprises an
aggregate of austenite nano-crystal grains containing 0.1 to 2.0% (by
mass) of a solid solution type nitrogen, wherein an oxide, nitride,
carbide or the like of a metal or semimetal exists as a crystal grain
growth inhibitor between and/or in said nano-crystal grains.For
preparation, fine powders of austenite steel-forming components, i.e.,
iron and chromium, nickel, manganese, carbon or the like are mixed with a
substance that becomes a nitrogen source. Mechanical alloying (MA) is
applied to the mixture, thereby preparing nano-crystal austenite steel
powders having a high nitrogen concentration. Finally, the austenite
steel powders are consolidated by sintering by means of spark plasma
sintering, rolling or the like.