Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Tinplate: Why it doesn't rust

Can someone tell me why doesn't tinplate rust? My son is doing an assignment on this.

Rosie Robins
- Australia

Rust is iron oxide, the corrosion product of iron when exposed to the oxygen in the air. Tin is not iron, so you cannot produce iron oxide from the corrosion of tin.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Because the layer of tin on the surface of the steel prevents atmospheric oxygen and moisture from contacting the steel. Scratch the layer of tin so that the steel is exposed to oxygen and moisture, and the steel so exposed will quickly rust.

Bill Reynolds [deceased]
consultant metallurgist - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
We sadly relate the news that Bill passed away on Jan. 29, 2010.

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