Does steel rust

Answer 1

Stainless steel is rust resistant not because it won't react with oxygen, but because when it does it forms an oxide layer that protects the underlying metal. Regular iron forms flaky rust that allows oxygen to get to the rest of the metal. So stainless steel can rust if there is something that removes the oxide layer as it forms.

Steel remains stainless, or does not rust, because of the interaction between its alloying elements and the environment. Stainless steel contains iron, chromium, manganese, silicon, carbon and, in many cases, significant amounts of nickel and molybdenum. These elements react with oxygen from water and air to form a very thin, stable film that consists of such corrosion products as metal oxides and hydroxides. Chromium plays a dominant role in reacting with oxygen to form this corrosion product film. It is in fact the chromium oxide that prevents further rusting or oxidation and it forms a tough adherent layer which does not flake off like rust. In fact, all stainless steels by definition contain at least 10 percent chromium.

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Answer 2

Yes, although it takes a lot to do so. Hydrochloric acid, hot ferric chloride and stagnant sea water will all cause corrosion of the stainless steel. Hot ferric chloride being extremely aggressive.

Answer 3

Yes, unless it is austenitic stainless steel.

Answer 4

I have seen it happen with low quality stainless steel.

Answer 5

not all stainless steel rusts those degrees of stainless that are followed by numbers in the 400-500 range have iron in them to give strength and therfore rust to a small degree.

Answer 6

Generally no, though it can tarnish and under certain conditions it can corrode, but 300 series stainless (the most common types) don't get rusty the way regular carbon steels do.

Answer 7

Rust-no. Tarnish, maybe possible-depends on grade.