Does Stainless Steel Rust and How to Avoid it?

There is a common misunderstanding that stainless steel does not rust. Stainless steel has higher resistance to corrosion compared to other metals however it is also prone to corrosion. Stainless does not mean it never stains. It just implies that it stains less.

What Causes Stainless Steel to Rust?

Stainless steel can remain perfect for years under normal environmental conditions. It only corrodes when kept or used constantly under harsh atmospheric conditions. Stainless steel comes in different qualities including Austenitic, Ferritic and Martensitic among others. Different elements are used in different measures to create these. Each of these types of stainless steel has different degrees of corrosion resistance. Highly alloyed stainless steel is less likely to corrode even during stern conditions. However, in any case when the limit of resistance is crossed, the rust formation will occur. The degree of rust resistance is dependent on the elements the stainless steel comprises of.

Corrosion Mechanisms of Stainless Steel

Knowledge about the corrosion mechanism of stainless steel helps us to understanding why it rusts. Some of the ways, in which stainless steel get corroded are,

• General Corrosion
• Crevice Corrosion
• Pitting Corrosion
• Stress Corrosion Cracking
• Bimetallic Corrosion

How to Avoid Stainless Steel from Corroding?

Stainless steel is highly resistant to rust. It corrodes only when exposed to harsh conditions. Different grades of stainless steel corrode in different environmental conditions. It is thus important to choose the quality of stainless steel based on the environmental conditions they are likely to be exposed to in order to avoid corrosion as much as possible. Here are few things to be kept in mind while choosing the stainless steel grade:

• The corrosive environment under which the stainless steel is likely to be used
• The kind of welding that needs to be carried out on it
• The temperature of operation it would be exposed to. High temperature leads to high corrosion rate and thus higher grade of stainless steel must be employed in such condition.

Now you know stainless steel can also rust though the odds are not as high as in other metals. But, you can avoid stainless steel corrosion by maintaining some caution as discussed above.

To get the best ever lasting quality Stainless Steel Commercial Kitchen equipments and utensils in Sharjah and Dubai, contact AL MUTQAN STEEL IND.LLC.