Help my stainless steel profile rusts - What can I do?

Stainless steel is a very popular material today, frequently used in various areas of the home. Stainless steel profiles are popular because they are not only robust and durable, but also enhance a room as a decorative element.

Stainless steel is always considered corrosion-resistant, but this property is not automatically given. The material can rust if the stainless steel is not selected appropriately for the intended use or if the subsequent processing is not carried out correctly. It is therefore particularly important to familiarize oneself with the topic of "stainless steel processing" beforehand, so that one is not surprised at the end when the tile profile is covered with brown speckles.

But don't worry, the brown speckles don't necessarily have to be rust. It could also be airborne rust.

Fly rust

What is that?

Fading rust is the so-called little brother of rust. Unlike proper rust, it is considered relatively harmless because it only affects the surface and hasn't yet eaten into the paintwork and metal.

How does airborne rust form?

Flying rust occurs when metal particles settle on stainless steel parts. This can happen during improper storage (stainless steel next to black steel) or during grinding work on the construction site due to flying sparks. These metal particles, which are transmitted through air or water, settle in recesses, edges and notches. This leads to the metal particles starting to rust, but not the stainless steel itself. However, if the flying rust is not removed, the passive layer cannot form and the stainless steel begins to rust. Therefore, thorough, regular cleaning of the tile profile is necessary.

How do I recognize airborne rust?

As described above, fly rust is caused by fine iron particles/sparks that settle on the paint and corrode over time (especially in damp areas). Unlike real rust, with fly rust you only see brown spots, without any bulging or other deformation of the surface.

Stainless steel can rust under certain conditions and with incorrect applications or during installation (processing).
Here are some reasons:

• Stainless steel must not come into contact with normal steel (black steel). Here, a spark can transfer through steel dust to the surface, causing so-called fly rust.
• When processing and installing tile profiles, you must also work with steel and dust-free tools (e.g. a grinding disc). A wide selection of grinding discs is now available. These include extra-thin discs for stainless steel rails, which prevent the rail from glowing during cutting (grinding).
• Stainless steel rails are often processed with a grinding disc that was previously used to cut normal steel or unalloyed steel. The flying sparks can damage the surface and cause pitting corrosion or, later, general corrosion.
• Chemical products or lye solutions (containing acid) that are found in cement stain removers or in mortar, grout, and silicone can also be harmful.
• If the rails are not cleaned immediately after installation with a clean linen cloth and the remaining adhesive, silicone, etc. are not removed, rust can also form.
• Condensation due to insufficient ventilation can also cause the tile profiles to start rusting.

Can I remove surface rust?

V4A stainless steel, robust against rust.

Yes, you can definitely try. In most cases, the rust stains can be removed. Good results can be achieved with special stainless steel cleaners or a special stainless steel paste for V2A stainless steel. Use a clean polishing cloth or fine sandpaper to remove the brown spots. In more stubborn cases, you can try polishing the stains away with a polishing attachment (drill) if necessary, and then preserve them with stainless steel care spray.

Please test it on a small area first to see if the desired result is achieved.

How can I prevent airborne rust?

Rust doesn't just appear out of nowhere. We've listed the reasons above. Clean your tile profile after installation, ventilate well and pay attention to the exact area of application. Will it be subjected to high stress? Then we recommend you the DURAL angle profile made of V4A stainless steel . For example, tile strips made of V4A stainless steel have better corrosion protection and are more resistant to all (chemical) influences than profiles made of V2A stainless steel.

Notes:

In general, the generally accepted rules of technology must be observed!

For all products/materials: The suitability for mechanical and chemical stress must be carefully checked in each individual case before installation. Protect material from prolonged exposure to sunlight.

If you should have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

Best of luck!

the team from alleszumfliesen.de