Stainless steel shower hose is an essential bathroom accessory in many households, but many people have found that it is easy to rust during use. Why is it so easy to rust? What methods can prevent rusting? Below, the editor will give you a chance to popularize science.
The appearance of the stainless steel shower hose is made of stainless steel material, which reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere, forming an oxide film on the surface of the material.
After the formation of iron oxide on the surface of steel, it will continue to oxidize under the action of oxygen in the air, and over time, the corrosion will continue to expand and form pores.
For this reason, manufacturers choose to use oxidation resistant steel. In order to further enhance its corrosion resistance, electroplating will be carried out on the surface of the oxidation resistant steel. However, this does not mean that the electroplated steel will not rust and corrode. Electroplating is only a thin film on the surface, and this protection is limited. Once the protective layer is damaged, the steel surface will begin to rust.
Generally speaking, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel materials is directly related to the chromium content in the material. If the chromium content in the material is 10.5%, it can greatly improve the corrosion resistance of the steel. However, it does not mean that the higher the chromium content, the higher the corrosion resistance of the steel. According to research, although the chromium content in the steel increases, the overall corrosion resistance of the steel does not significantly increase.
This is mainly because when chromium is used for alloying treatment of steel, the type of surface oxide changes, making the surface similar to the oxide formed on the surface of pure chromium metal. The tightly adhered chromium rich oxide will protect the surface of steel, effectively preventing steel oxidation.
However, this layer of oxide is relatively thin and can still retain the natural luster of the stainless steel surface, thus preserving the characteristics of the stainless steel material. However, once this layer of oxide is damaged, the surface of the stainless steel below will be exposed to the air. However, after the stainless steel surface reacts with the atmosphere, this layer of oxide will undergo a self-healing process, forming a passivation film again to protect the steel.
However, if the oxide layer on the surface of stainless steel is completely damaged, the protective effect will no longer be effective, and the surface of stainless steel will undergo chemical reactions with oxygen, water, salt, etc. in the atmosphere, leading to rusting.
How to prevent stainless steel shower hoses from rusting? Some people always find ways to remove the rust marks on the hoses at home when they find them rusty, but even after treatment, the surface glossiness is not as good as when they first bought them. In fact, the following points should be noted during normal use to effectively prevent rusting.
1. Be waterproof. The bathroom is a place with a high water consumption in a house, and it is inevitable that there will be a large number of water droplets and traces during use. Dampness can cause rust on the hoses. Therefore, it is necessary to do waterproof measures in daily life. After showering, the floor should be mopped and ventilated in a timely manner, and attention should be paid to the smoothness of the sewer to reduce water accumulation.
2. When choosing hoses, you can choose hoses that have undergone surface chrome plating treatment. Chromium plated hoses have stronger corrosion resistance than hoses that have not undergone chrome plating treatment