So..."stainless steel" essentially means "non-rusting steel"

[dolo amber]

right?

Why didn't they just call it "non-rusting steel"?? :wtf:

[StopTheMorans]

1. doesn't quite have the same ring now, does it?

;)

[Squatch]

2. Actually, it rusts quite nicely...

[MercutioATC]

3. Stainless steel contains 10.5% chromium, which makes it resistant to

staining as well as rusting.

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/metalsandalloys/a/aa071201a.htm
(this article claims 12% chromium)

Thus, "stainless".

[dolo amber]

6. I wasn't aware stained steel

was such an issue...stained with what, anyway?

Not trying to be (any more than the usual ;)) a smartass, just ignorant of such things. :)

[MercutioATC]

10. NP, I edited the post you replied to (#3 )with a link..it explains things.

:)

[dolo amber]

13. Very nice

Thanks! I feel smarter now. :D

[MercutioATC]

14. Me too! ( I Googled stainless steel) I knew it was really "stainless" but

I didn't know why.

:hi:

[Worst Username Ever]

4. stainless steel= 3 syllables, non-rusting steel = 5?

Why make a word longer?

[dolo amber]

7. You so lazy

:P

[rsdsharp]

5. Because

stainless steel will rust. It is more resistant to rust and stains from corrosion, but it will rust. The name says exactly what it means: Stainless = stains less.

[BiggJawn]

8. The German term for it is "Rostfrei"

It makes great sinks, storage tanks, and Marine fittings.
It makes a really shitty knife, though. Won't take or hold an edge like carbon steel does.

[Kellanved]

15. or "Edelstahl"

Which is pretty close to the American word.

[SOteric]

9. Because it's the staining they wanted to address.

I know it seems shallow, but marketing research shows we like our pots and pans pretty, not just sans iron oxide.

By the way, it really isn't "non-rusting." Salt water corrodes stainless steel. Leave your salted pasta water in a stainless steel pot too long and you'll see just how "non-rusting" it really is.

:hi:

[Lavender Brown]

11. "Non-rusting" doesn't convey the pure, virginal spotlessness

we demand in our steel products.

[Socialist Dem]

12. Also,

it's non-magnetic, and it's nickle content makes it more suitable in certain applications.