316 Stainless Steel Pipe Suppliers
316 Stainless Steel Pipe Suppliers 316 Stainless Steel Pipe Suppliers Stainless Steel : - Stainless steel differs from carbon steel due to the presence of chromium. Unprotected carbon steel rusts readily when exposed to the combination of air and moisture. The resulting iron oxide surface layer (the rust) is porous and fragile. Since iron oxide occupies a larger volume than the original steel this layer expands and tends to flake and fall away exposing the underlying steel to further attack. In comparison, stainless steels contain sufficient chromium to undergo passivation , spontaneously forming a microscopically thin inert surface film of chromium oxide by reaction with the oxygen in air and even the small amount of dissolved oxygen in water. This passive film prevents further corrosion by blocking oxygen diffusion to the steel surface and thus prevents corrosion from spreading into the bulk of the metal. [3] This film is self-repairing if it is scratched o