Microstructure and Anti-Corrosion Behavior in 3.5% NaCl of Warm Compacted and Sintered 316L

316L austenitic stainless steel samples were prepared by warm compacting and vacuum sintering powder metallurgy method. Effects of sintering temperature on microstructure, phase and mechanical performances such as hardness and tensile strength were investigated. The immersion corrosion behaviors of the sintered 316L austenitic stainless steel in 3.5wt% NaCl solution were investigated by corrosion mass loss curve, anodic polarization curve, Nyquist diagram and Mott-Schottky curve. Tensile fracture, immersion corrosion morphology and passivation film composition and elemental valence were analyzed by SEM, laser scanning confocal microscopy and XPS, respectively. The results show that the highest sintering density (7.203 g.cm(-3)), elongation (65.46%), mechanical tensile strength (420.37 MPa) and hardness ( 63.1 HRB) are achieved after warm compacting at 115 degrees C and vacuum sintering at 1290 degrees C, and high toughness with the tensile fracture morphologies of ductile rupture, deep and numerous dimples is presented. In addition, the lowest corrosion current density (5.068x10-5 A.cm(-2)), the carrier density (0.723x10(20) cm(-3)), the highest charge transfer resistance (8111 Omega.cm(2)) and passivation film resistance (14 780 Omega.cm(2)) of the sintered samples after 600 h immersion in 3.5wt% NaCl exhibit its very good corrosion resistance. Key words: 316L austenitic stainless; warm compact; sintering temperature; mechanical performance; corrosion behaviors