Stainless steel composition influences the characteristics of nitrided layers.
The modified layers of all the tested steels have a double layer microstructure.
S phase allows to have comparable corrosion behaviour in the tested steels.
Tendency to form shear bands and hcp martensite is AISI 316L < AISI 304L < AISI 202.
Tendency to form nitrides is AISI 316L < AISI 304L < AISI 202.