"nightjar .me.uk" cpb@insert my surname here wrote in message
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"Dead Paul" wrote in message
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On Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:22:40 +0100, nightjar wrote:


"Richard Bird" wrote in message
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"tony" wrote in message
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Last summer I bought 2 stainless steel watering cans from Tesco. At
the
start of the season this year, they were showing signs of rust and
leaking.
Tesco have refused to refund the cost as I do not have the recipt I am
reluctant to take the company to the small claims court because of the
cost,
but all gardeners should be aware of Tesco's attitude I will probably
cut up my Tesco club card and send it to Leahy Tony Bull
www.caterpillar fountain.co.uk

Are you sure that they are "stainless steel" and not galvanised because
as far as i was aware s/s does not rust

A common misconception. If the surface is starved of oxygen, so that it
cannot form a protective coating of oxides on its surface, stainless
steel
is no more corrosion resistant than mild steel.

Colin Bignell

Ah but then if the surface is starved of oxygen the surface cannot rust
since rust is actually Iron Oxide (Fe2O3 if you prefer). The process of
rusting requires oxygen. The way stainless steel works is that the
chromium content (alloyed) reacts with oxygen (rusts) and produces an
impenetrable layer which prevents further rusting.

Being starved of oxygen does not necessarily imply that it is completely
excluded. It is possible for the amount of oxygen available to be
sufficient for the iron to rust, but insufficient for the chromium dioxide
to form. The most notorious incidence of this was about 30 years ago, when
a number of yachts lost their ballast keels as a result of the stainless
steel bolts rusting just as if they had been mild steel.

Colin Bignell


Read a fascinating book once, "The Golden Keel". Desmond Bagley I believe
:-))

--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk