What is the corrosion resistance of stainless steel

Stainless steel is a special alloy steel with excellent corrosion resistance and can resist the erosion of most chemical media, including acids, alkalis, salts, etc. This corrosion resistance is mainly due to the addition of chromium to stainless steel. Chromium can form a dense oxide protective film on the surface of the steel to isolate air, water, and other media from contact with the steel matrix, thereby preventing corrosion from occurring.

In addition, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel is also related to the uniformity of its matrix structure. When a uniform alloy solid solution is formed, it can effectively reduce the corrosion rate of steel in the electrolytic solution. Stainless steel can be divided into austenitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, martensitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, etc. according to its organizational structure. Different types of stainless steel also have different corrosion resistance.

However, stainless steel is not rust-free in all circumstances, nor is it a corrosion-resistant material. In some specific environments, such as high temperature, high humidity, strong acid, strong alkali, and other extreme conditions, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel may be affected. In addition, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel also decreases with the increase of carbon content, so the carbon content of most stainless steel generally does not exceed 1.2%.

Therefore, when using stainless steel, it is necessary to select the appropriate type according to the specific use environment and requirements and pay attention to proper maintenance and upkeep to ensure that it has good corrosion resistance and service life.