Abstract: The electrochemical performance of 317L stainless steel used in medicine under different conditions of passivation (different contents of HNO₃ solution, different passivation time and different passivation temperatures) was studied. The results show that the pitting potential of 317L stainless steel used in medicine can reach about 1.0 V (SCE) when electrochemically tested in 0.9% NaCl solution after the steel was passivated in 30% HNO₃ solution at 35℃ for 6 h, which indicates that the passivation film has a relatively strong resistance to corrosion. The results also show that the corrosion resistance of the passivation film on the surface of 317SS can be increased after suitable amount of K₂Cr₂O₇ is added into HNO₃ passivation solution.