20MM 25MM 1.25 Inch Expanding 201 Stainless Steel Pipe Exhaust Pipe Capillary Tubing AISI

20MM 25MM 1.25 Inch Expanding 201 Stainless Steel Pipe Exhaust Pipe Capillary Tubing AISI

Factors That Can Cause Stainless Steel To Corrode

There are a number of reasons why a piece of stainless steel might start to develop rust. However, because there are hundreds of different alloys of stainless steel, what might cause one stainless steel alloy to corrode might not affect another one. Here’s a look at five factors that can cause stainless steel, including metal baskets and racks, to corrode.

Strong Chlorides Can Cause Pitting Corrosion in Stainless Steel

Many types of stainless steel alloys will suffer extreme pitting corrosion when exposed to environments that are rich in chlorides (such as salt). For example, grade 304 stainless steel, when used in naval applications, may start to suffer pitting as a result of contact with seawater (which is rich in salt) or salt-enriched sea breezes.

To avoid pitting corrosion, it’s important to use a grade of stainless steel that is specifically resistant to chlorides—such as grade 316 stainless steel. Alternatively, a specialized coating can be applied to the steel to prevent direct contact with chlorides in the environment.

 Bimetallic/Galvanic Corrosion from Welding Dissimilar Stainless Steel Alloys

One basic mistake that some manufacturers may make when creating a custom steel wire or sheet metal form is that they may weld two dissimilar metals together—whether by accident or by design.

201 Stainless Steel Pipe Specification

Elemental comparison of the different materials