Carbon is an element in austenitic stainless steel that strongly forms and stabilizes austenite and expands the austenite zone. The ability of carbon to form austenite is about 30 times that of nickel. Carbon is an interstitial element that can significantly increase the strength of austenitic stainless steel through solid solution strengthening. Carbon can also improve the stress corrosion resistance of austenitic stainless steel in high concentration chloride (such as 42% MgCl2 boiling solution).