The relationship between microstructure and corrosion behavior of martensitic high nitrogen stainless steel 30Cr15Mo1N at different austenitizing temperatures was investigated by microscopy observation, electrochemical measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and immersion testing. The results indicated that finer Cr-rich M₂N dispersed more homogeneously than coarse M23C₆, and the fractions of M23C₆ and M₂N both decreased with increasing austenitizing temperature. The Cr-depleted zone around M23C₆ was wider and its minimum Cr concentration was lower than M₂N. The metastable pits initiated preferentially around coarse M23C₆ which induced severer Cr-depletion, and the pit growth followed the power law. The increasing of austenitizing temperature induced fewer metastable pit initiation sites, more uniform element distribution and higher contents of Cr, Mo and N in the matrix. In addition, the passive film thickened and Cr₂O₃, Cr3+ and CrN enriched with increasing austenitizing temperature, which enhanced the stability of the passive film and repassivation ability of pits. Therefore, as austenitizing temperature increased, the metastable and stable pitting potentials increased and pit growth rate decreased, revealing less susceptible metastable pit initiation, larger repassivation tendency and higher corrosion resistance. The determining factor of pitting potentials could be divided into three stages: dissolution of M23C₆ (below 1000 °C), dissolution of M₂N (from 1000 to 1050 °C) and existence of a few undissolved precipitates and non-metallic inclusions (above 1050 °C).
Keywords: austenitizing temperature; martensitic high nitrogen stainless steel; microstructure; passive film; pit growth; pit initiation.