Understanding the Corrosion-Resistant Limitations of Stainless Steel and the Benefits of Protective Coatings

Abstract The following is a literature review of the latest scientific theory and industry practices to understand the benefits protective organic coatings may provide stainless steel assets. United Facilities Criteria and Unified Facilities Guideline Specifications give clearance for the usage of stainless steel in Department of Defense facilities which has led to the increasing trend of it appearing more and more across the nation. Stainless steel is commonly known to be resistant to tarnish, stain, and rust. And yet, corrosion is frequently observed on stainless steel in marine environments. Is there something unique about those environments? Or is there something fundamentally problematic about stainless steel’s protective technology that such environments exploit? Let’s explore the science of corrosion and the defense mechanisms of stainless steel to see how they fail against certain corrosion types and how marine environments exacerbate these issues. By understanding these problems fundamentally, we can realize the importance of utilizing protective coatings to keep such steel truly stainless, even in the harshest conditions.