How can stainless steel rust?
Ans. Stainless steel is a name given to different grades of material with varying degrees of resistance to rust. At Sundance Boats, we use only the higher grade 316 stainless steel for all hardware. Since 2006 all our fasteners are also made from 316 stainless steel. However, even this grade can rust under some conditions. Stainless is an active metal that will form its own protective layer called a pacification layer. This protective layer can be compromised by some solvents and abrasives leaving the metal subject to corrosion until the layer can be reformed. The pacification process itself requires oxygen which comes from contact with the air. Therefore if the metal is allowed to stay in constant contact with salt water the protective layer can be broken down and rust can begin. Abrasives and harsh chemicals should be avoided when cleaning your boat to protect the stainless parts along with a freshwater rinsing after use in salt water, but this brings up another possibility. Some fre
Rust is produced on the surface of stainless steel when the metal molecules at the surface are not adequately alloyed with chromium to create or maintain the required oxide layer. This can mainly occur when a piece of ordinary steel is rubbed against the surface of a corrosion resistant piece of stainless steel. The iron from the ordinary steel will rub off onto the stainless steel surface as a film of unalloyed steel, and, after exposure to moisture in the atmosphere for a few days you will find a layer of rust on stainless steel. Thus, Stainless steel needs to be kept clean regularly. Hence, we need to take care of the stainless steel appliances in order to keep them rust free.
