The effect of quenching and tempering on the capacity of steels based on chromium-carbon, chromium-nitrogen, and carbon-manganese austenite for strain-induced martensitic transformation, hardening, and wear resistance in the process of abrasive wear is studied. The steels contain 1-1.2% C or N and 18% Cr or Mn. The wear resistance of the studied steels having a structure of metastable austenite is compared to that of steel 110G13. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.