The present study concerns the effect of second-phase on the corrosion and wear behaviors of composite alloying layer, which is prepared by double glow plasma alloying of AISI316L steel with predeposited Ni/nano-SiC particle interlayer (by electric brush plating). The composition and microstructure of the composite alloying layer are analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that decomposition of nano-SiC particles have occurred under alloying temperature (1000 degrees C) condition and nano-SiC particles have reacted with Ni and Cr to form Cr6.5Ni2.5Si phase and Cr23C6 phase. The corrosion resistance of composite alloying layer was investigated by an electrochemical method in 3.5% NaCl and 5% HCl solution. The experimental results show that the corrosion resistance of the composite alloying layer is higher than that of AISI316L stainless steel and Ni/nano-SiC plating coating, but apparently lower than that of single alloying layer, which proves that the precipitated phase is harmful to the corrosion behavior of Ni-based alloying layer. The dry wear test results show that the composite alloying layer has excellent friction-reduced property, and relative wear resistance of composite alloying layer to Ni/nano-SiC plating coating, alloying layer and 316L stainless steel is 2.9, 3.6 and 5.3, respectively. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.