NSSC Gets Dual Phase Stainless Licensee from Outokumpu

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel (NSSC) announced on Tuesday the firm signed license agreement with Outokumpu of Finland to make low nickel dual phase stainless steel at Yawata plant. NSSC can accept order from users worldwide. The firm tries to expand the plate products mainly for seawater desalting plant in Middle East. The firm starts license production of ASTM S32101, which Outokumpu markets in LDX2101 brand, with 21% chrome, 1.5% nickel, 0.3% molybdenum and 0.2% nitrogen. Dual phase stainless steel supply was very tight from mid-2006 to early 2007 due to same performance and cost advantage compared with nickel series stainless. Dual phase stainless steel shipment was 116,000 tonnes, in which chemical application represented 27% and chemical equipment represented 21%, according to International Stainless Steel Forum.