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caters
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I noticed on 1 of my stainless steel spoons that a film of Iron(II) oxide(which is a black rust) formed. I have been taught that stainless steel will not rust. So why would a stainless steel spoon be oxidizing?
But the 18/10 chromium-nickel alloy is austenitic. Which means it's not, or very weakly, magnetic. If your spoon is attracted by a magnet then it's a ferric 18/0.caters said:I know that nickel is a magnetic metal just like iron is so a magnetism test probably would not help determine whether it is Iron(II) oxide like I thought it was or whether it is Nickel(III) oxide.
18/10 is the chromium/nickel content (the 10 is actually an 8, because reasons). Such ssteel is classified as the 300 series. The difference between the more common 304 and 316 is in other additives, that make 316 especially corrosion resistant, but about one-and-a-half to twice as expensive (iirc). If your source says 316 is also used for cutlery, then who am I to say otherwise. It just seems unnecessary for the regular kitchen environment to use marine-grade steel. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say you may find this grade in those expensive, 'high-end' utensils marketed to the more snobbish parts of the population.caters said:I looked up the grades of stainless steel and it said that 316 is used often in cutlery(so your common kitchen utensils) and that 316 is the same as 18/10.
See here:caters said:But why would 18/10 steel be weakly magnetic if it is at all magnetic?
for starters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austenite#Stabilizationcaters said:That says that gamma iron occurs when the temperature of the iron is 1000K or 730 C. That is the curie temperature of iron. And austenite is a form of gamma iron. But how does the nickel along with the chromium keep the iron in its gamma allotrope even after the iron has cooled down?
caters said:I noticed on 1 of my stainless steel spoons that a film of Iron(II) oxide(which is a black rust) formed. I have been taught that stainless steel will not rust. So why would a stainless steel spoon be oxidizing?
Lok said:If you still have some of that rust. Scrape it off and heat it on a gas stove (while being careful not to blow it away) FeO will turn to a red Fe2O3.
Stainless steel oxidizing is a process in which the surface of the stainless steel reacts with oxygen in the air, forming a thin layer of oxide on the surface. This layer provides protection against corrosion and gives stainless steel its characteristic shiny appearance.
Stainless steel oxidizes because of the high levels of chromium and other alloying elements present in its composition. These elements react with oxygen to form a thin, protective layer of oxide on the surface of the steel.
To prevent stainless steel from oxidizing, it is important to keep it clean and dry. Wipe down the surface regularly to remove any dirt or debris that may react with the steel. Additionally, you can apply a protective coating or finish to the steel to prevent direct exposure to oxygen.
No, stainless steel oxidizing is not harmful. In fact, the thin layer of oxide that forms on the surface of stainless steel provides protection against corrosion and helps to maintain its appearance.
Yes, stainless steel can be restored after oxidizing. This can be done through various methods such as cleaning, polishing, or applying a passivation treatment. These methods can help to remove the oxidized layer and restore the steel's appearance and corrosion resistance.