Purpose: The aim of the paper is to investigate the corrosion behaviour of the new-developed high-manganese austenitic steel in 0.5 n NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach: The steel used for the investigation was thermomechanically rolled and solution heat-treated from a temperature of 850 C. Corrosion resistance of investigated steel was examined using weight and potentiodynamic methods. In the weight method, the specimens were immersed in the prepared solution for 24h. In the potentiodynamic method, anodic polarization curves with a rate of potential changes of 1 mV/s in the anodic direction were registered. After the current density being equal 1 mA/cm2 was achieved, the direction of polarization has been changed. Basing on the registered curves, the pitting potential, repassivation potential, polarization resistance and corrosion current were determined. Findings: It was found that the steel is characterized by a partially recrystallized austenitic microstructure with numerous annealing twins and slip bands. According to the results of potentiodynamic analyses it was found that the samples of examined steel show poor corrosion resistance in the NaCl solution. The observed corrosion pits are related to the chemical composition. It is connected with the high dissolution rate of Mn and Fe atoms in NaCl solution. Fractographic analyses of samples revealed corrosion products on their surface in a form of pits with diversified size.