Stainless steel: Why doesn't it rust ?
Steel is a metal alloy made primarily of iron and carbon. There are several types of steel, some of which are stainless. But why doesn't the stainless steel in our watches rust? To answer this question, we will... to present the specific characteristics of this steel.
1. The formation of steel
Steel is a metal alloy made up primarily of iron but also of carbon. The carbon added, between 0.02% and 2%, transforms iron into steel, making it even stronger but also giving it a certain " Flexibility is key, which is why steel is widely used in construction. At this stage, steel is not a stainless alloy. Beyond 3% carbon, iron becomes cast iron, but this high carbon content makes the metal very hard but also brittle. Therefore, nowadays iron is almost never used in its raw form but is almost always converted into steel.
2. Steel, an oxidizable alloy
Raw steel is an oxidizable alloy. It will naturally bond with oxygen molecules present in the air or water through redox reactions. This reaction is more commonly known as " corrosion These reactions result in the formation of iron oxide and iron hydroxide. Also known as "rust," this infamous red-orange substance is found on some iron structures. Rust is a destructive agent that consumes steel, initially leading to the creation of small holes on the surface of a steel element, eventually resulting in its complete decomposition. Hence the need to create a durable alloy that resists these reactions.
3. From steel to stainless steel
In 1912, two German chemists, Strauss and Maurer, filed a patent for the first stainless steel, a carefully crafted mixture of steel, chromium, and nickel that makes the steel highly resistant to corrosion and prevents it from rusting. The chromium content of stainless steel is at least 10.5%, its carbon content must be less than 1.2%, and its nickel content approximately 8%. There are three main categories of stainless steel: ferritic, martensitic, and austenitic.
4. What are the characteristics of 316 and 316L steel? ?
316L steel is a type of austenitic stainless steel with a carbon content not exceeding 0.02%, a chromium content of around 17%, and a nickel content of 10 to 12.5%. Molybdenum is added to this alloy, with a content of 2 to 2.5%. The "L" in the abbreviation 316L signifies that it is an austenitic stainless steel. Low carbon "(low carbon). The fact of having a minimum of carbon in the structure of this alloy" prevents the creation of this precipitation and therefore the steel is not subject to corrosion.
5. Why do we use 316L stainless steel in our watches?
For all of our watches, We chose to work with 316L stainless steel. As you might have guessed, this alloy is known for its durability. and also its high resistance to corrosion, two elements that we consider essential for the
Finally, 316L steel It is very easily and completely recyclable. This applies to stainless steel watches as well. can have a new life. Stainless steel can be recycled infinitely without losing its quality.Since environmental responsibility is one of Charlie Paris's core values, it was only natural that we turned to this type of steel for our watches
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