The stainless steel grades N1 to N7 are specialized and low-nickel austenitic materials, which intentionally substitute expensive nickel with manganese, nitrogen, and copper. This chemistry balances cost while maintaining the high formability, strength, and corrosion resistance required for consumer goods.

Grade N1: A low-nickel alloy containing roughly 1% to 2% nickel and 8.5% to 10.5% manganese. It provides very high yield strength but is strictly optimized for low-corrosion environments.

Grade N2: Formulated with 1.5% to 3.5% nickel and a high copper content (2% to 4%). The added copper significantly improves cold-rolling, deep drawing, and stretching properties.

Grade N3: Features the highest nickel content among the early series (4% to 6%) with 16% to 17.5% chromium. It provides the best corrosion resistance of the N1–N3 trio, behaving closely to standard 300-series steel.

Grade N5: An ultra-low nickel grade containing less than 1% nickel, heavily reliant on chromium and manganese. It is certified under BIS standards specifically for cost-sensitive kitchenware.

Grade N6: Another standard kitchenware grade with minimal nickel content. It carefully balances manganese and nitrogen to prevent the metal from becoming brittle during high-volume stamping and pressing.

Grade N7: A highly regulated ultra-low nickel variant used for utensils. It relies on precise nitrogen additions to maintain structural integrity and strength without escalating raw material costs.