Judging by the name, you could assume that stainless steel never rusts-but you'd be wrong.
Stainless steel oxidizes less easily than other iron-based metals, but is not literally "stainless". Like standard steel, stainless steel can be marked with fingerprints and grease, develop discoloration and eventually corrode. The difference is resistance. Stainless steel can withstand much longer and more abuse before showing signs of wear.
What is stainless steel?
All steels have the same basic iron and carbon composition, but stainless steel also contains a good dose of chromium-alloy that gives stainless steel its famous corrosion resistance.
And this is where things get complicated. There are multiple degrees under the shade of stainless steel, each with a slightly different alloy composition, and therefore slightly different physical characteristics.
Stainless steel must contain at least 10.5 percent chromium. Depending on the grade, it may contain much higher chromium levels and additional alloy ingredients such as molybdenum, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, nitrogen, phosphorus and selenium.
