Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a low carbon steel which contains chromium at 10% or more by weight. It is this addition of chromium that gives the steel its unique stainless, corrosion resisting properties.  Stainless steel differs from other carbon steels by the amount of chromium present. Carbon steel rusts when exposed to air and moisture. This iron oxide film (the rust) is active and accelerates corrosion by forming more iron oxide. Stainless steels have sufficient amounts of chromium present so that a rough, adherent, invisible corrosion-resisting film of chromium oxide forms on the steel surface which prevents further surface corrosion and blocks corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure.