The rust layer plays an important role in the corrosion of steel in chlorinated environments. Salt spray, potentiodynamic polarization curve and tensile test were conducted in laboratory for the specimens after two-stage heat treatment. The influence of the alloying elements on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of three kinds of steels was investigated by observing the microstructure and the morphologies of rust layer. The results show that the highest value (29%) of total elongation for steel A is obtained. The mechanical property of the specimen for steel C exhibits best strength ductility balance (21 384 MPa·%) because of the presence of the multiphase microstructures after a two-stage heat treatment and the addition of the alloying elements. The corrosion products are known to be a complex mixture of Fe3O4, Fe2O3 and α-FeOOH for steel C. The presence of the alloying elements results in the formation of compact and dense rust layers in steel B and C. Passive film protects the substrate of TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel containing a complex mix of multiphase. Superior corrosion performance is exhibited for steel C with low alloying contents due to the enrichment of alloying elements within the rust layers. The rust layer plays an important role in the corrosion of steel in chlorinated environments. The influence of the alloying elements on mechanical properties and corrosion. The results show that the highest value (29%) of total elongation for steel A is obtained. The mechanical property of the specimen for steel C exhibits best strength ductility balance (21 384 MPa ·%) because of the presence of the multiphase microstructures after a two-stage heat treatment and the addition of the alloying elements. The corrosion products are known to be a complex mixture of Fe3O4, Fe2O3 and α- FeOOH for steel C. The presence of the alloying elements results in the formation of compact and dense rust layers in steel B and C. Passive film prot ects the substrate of TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) steel containing a complex mix of multiphase. Superior corrosion performance is exhibited for steel C with low alloying contents due to the enrichment of alloying elements within the rust layers.