What is iron contamination?

Iron contamination causes rust staining on stainless steel. Stainless Steel has a Chromium Oxide passive film on its surface to prevent the Iron in the steel from oxidizing and forming rust. If loose Iron particles end up on the surface, these can oxidize to form rust and kick start corrosion.

How do I avoid iron contamination to prevent rust?

It is important to follow guidelines when using stainless steel, such as that any tools you use with stainless steel fasteners or hardware should only be used with stainless steel, and not also used on carbon steel fasteners where they could bring access loose Iron particles from.

For example:

1. The driver/screw tips you use to drive the screws should be Chrome Vanadium steel.
2. Hammers should be good quality Hardened-Steel or Hardened-Chrome plated. You can also get covers for the hammer ends to be used just for stainless steel.
3. Allen Keys should be Hardened-Chrome plated.
4. Cutting wheels should be made from Aluminium Oxide, be ‘Iron’ or ‘Carbon’ ‘free’, or be labelled “For Stainless Steel”. These should never used with Carbon Steel. A common cause of Iron contamination is Iron filings from cutting wheels cutting Carbon Steel landed onto a stainless steel surface.

These tools should be kept just for stainless steel.

Disclaimer: This article is meant as a guide. Anzor Fasteners LLP does not accept any liability for the application or use of the information in this article.