Neither of these forms of corrosion affects stainless steel’s mechanical properties, but they are unattractive. You might also see a form of corrosion that creates a large crevice in the steel’s surface. Pitting appears in the form of dark brown pits in the steel’s surface. Stainless steel corrodes in two main forms.
But, when the environment overwhelms the metal’s passive layer with something like salt, it begins to break down. In a perfect world, stainless steel would not corrode at all. Areas within 10 miles of salt water are generally considered at risk of salt-related corrosion, but that distance varies with location and weather patterns. In coastal areas, the chloride in sea spray, rain and dry salt particles that the wind carries can contribute to the corrosion of stainless steel. The addition of nickel and molybdenum also contribute to stainless steel’s passivity. The more passive a material is, the less it is affected by environmental factors. Whereas the iron in carbon steel reacts with the oxygen in the atmosphere to produce rust, the chromium in stainless steel reacts with oxygen to form a thin but strong passive layer on the metal’s surface. You may have noticed it on the bumper of your car. You are probably familiar with chromium if you own anything that is chrome-plated, which just means it has been coated with chromium. Chromium is a lustrous and steely gray metal known for being tarnish resistant. Stainless steel gets its corrosion resistant ability from chromium, and it contains at least 10.5 percent of it. And don’t worry you won’t need tights or a cape to get it done. Learn more about what salt air does your stainless steel and how you can help it fight the battle against the breeze. While your stainless steel will put up a good fight against salt air, it’s going to need a trusty sidekick to fully take down the sea breeze that looms over our coastal climate.
Unfortunately, all superheroes have their weaknesses. Durable, clean, highly recyclable and visually pleasing, this metal also earns points for being extremely resistant to corrosion. When it comes to versatile metals, stainless steel is certainly a top contender.