Abstract
440A martensitic stainless steels which were modified with reduced carbon content (${\sim}$0.5%) and addition of small amount of nickel, vanadium, tungsten and molybdenum were manufactured. Effects of alloying elements and heat treatment on the pitting corrosion in 3.5% NaCl were investigated through the electrochemical polarization tests. The lowest pitting potential, $E_p$, was obtained when austenitizing temperature was $1250^{\circ}C$ and this is because of the grain coarsening. When austenitized at $1050^{\circ}C$ and tempered at $350{\sim}750^{\circ}C$, the highest $E_p$ was obtained at $350^{\circ}C$, while the lowest at $450^{\circ}C$ and $550^{\circ}C$ regardless of alloying elements added. But $E_p$ was increased a little at the tempering temperature of $450^{\circ}C$ and $550^{\circ}C$ when 0.4 wt.% of tungsten was added. More pitting was observed at $450{\sim}550^{\circ}C$, and pitting was formed at regions where Cr concentration is low or grain boundaries are intersecting and showed irregular shape.