Eli5 : How does stainless steel stay stainless?
In: Chemistry
It’s called stainless because it stains LESS than regular carbon steel.
The chromium molecule is smaller than an iron molecule so the chromium creates a “matrix” around the iron, protecting the steel molecules. It’s not a perfect seal so over time the iron still breaks down from being exposed to oxygen. It just takes longer.
What’s a real mind trip is that steel is made by melting iron oxide, adding carbon, then bubbling oxygen through it. But if steel is exposed to oxygen it converts back to iron oxide. The fuck?
I’m just a welder so that’s a pretty rough run down of it. I’m sure someone much smarter than me could elaborate better.
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