What Are Corrosion-Resistant Materials?

Why Do We Need Things That Do Not Rust?

Rust and corrosion are big problems. They make things break. They cost lots of money to fix. When metal parts get rusty, they do not work well.

At Istar Machining, we know that picking the right materials is very important. We help make parts that do not rust.

When we pick materials that fight rust, things last longer. This saves money and keeps people safe.

Top Metals That Do Not Rust

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a very good metal. It has a special layer that stops rust.

Types of stainless steel:

• 304: Good for most places
• 316L: Best for water and salt

Stainless steel can be used in:

• Boat parts
• Kitchen tools
• Medical tools

Our team at Istar Machining can make many parts from stainless steel using our CNC machines.

Titanium

Titanium is very strong and does not rust. It is light too!

Good things about titanium:

• Very strong
• Very light
• Works in the body
• Does not rust in salt water

Titanium is used in:

• Plane parts
• Body parts (like new hips)
• Boats
• Bikes

We make many titanium parts for planes and medical tools at Istar Machining.

Aluminum Alloys

Aluminum is light and does not rust much. It makes a thin layer that stops more rust.

Types of aluminum:

• 6061: Good for most things
• 7075: Very strong for planes

Aluminum is used in:

• Cars
• Phones
• Bikes
• Windows

Our aluminum CNC machining makes parts fast and with high quality.

Nickel Alloys

Nickel alloys like Inconel and Monel are very good at not rusting. They work well when hot or in strong chemicals.

Good things about nickel alloys:

• Work when very hot
• Do not break down in strong acids
• Very strong

Nickel alloys are used in:

• Oil rigs
• Power plants
• Hot engines
• Chemical tanks

Copper & Bronze

Copper and bronze get a green layer that stops more rust. They look nice and last long.

Good things about copper:

• Kills germs
• Looks nice
• Lasts very long

Copper is used in:

• Pipes
• Roofs
• Art
• Boat parts

Non-Metal Materials That Do Not Rust

Polymers (Plastics)

Plastics do not rust at all! They can break down in sun or chemicals, but not from water.

Types of plastics that work well:

• PTFE (Teflon): For hot chemicals
• PVDF (Kynar): For outside use
• PVC: For pipes and outside use

Plastics are used in:

• Chemical tanks
• Pipes
• Outside signs
• Boat parts

At Istar Machining, our CNC plastic service makes precise plastic parts.

Ceramics

Ceramics are very hard and do not rust. They can be in hot or cold places.

Good things about ceramics:

• Very hard
• Work when very hot
• Do not rust at all

Ceramics are used in:

• Body parts (like teeth)
• Engine parts
• Cutting tools
• Chemical tanks

Composites

Composites mix different materials. Many do not rust.

• Carbon fiber: Very strong and light
• Fiberglass: Used in boats
• Kevlar: Very strong

Warning: Some composites can cause problems when touching metals.

How We Pick The Right Material

Picking the right material means looking at:

1. Where will it be used?
   • Salt water?
   • Chemicals?
   • Hot or cold?
2. Will it touch other metals?
   • Some metals cause others to rust faster
   • This is called “galvanic corrosion“
3. How much can you spend?
   • Titanium costs more than steel
   • Plastic often costs less than metal
4. What rules must be followed?
   • Some jobs have special rules
   • Tests like ASTM G48 check for rust

Table of Materials and How Good They Are

How To Stop Rust

Even with good materials, we can do more to stop rust:

Add Special Coatings

• Paint
• Powder coating
• Anodizing for aluminum
• Special metal coatings

Make Better Designs

• No places for water to sit
• Make sure water can run off
• Keep different metals apart

Take Care Of Your Things

• Clean salt water off
• Keep things dry
• Fix small rust spots fast

Materials For Different Jobs

For Boats and Sea Things

• 316L Stainless Steel
• Titanium
• Fiberglass

For Medical Tools

• Titanium
• 316L Stainless Steel
• Ceramics

For Energy Plants

• Inconel
• Monel
• High-grade Stainless Steel

For Buildings

• Copper for roofs
• Aluminum for windows
• Stainless Steel for outside parts

Questions People Ask A Lot

Real World Examples

Case Study 1: A boat builder changed from regular steel to 316L Stainless Steel. The new parts lasted 5 times longer in salt water.

Case Study 2: A chemical company used PTFE-lined tanks instead of steel. The tanks lasted 50% longer with strong acids.

Case Study 3: An airplane maker used titanium parts instead of aluminum in high-stress spots. The parts lasted 10+ years with almost no corrosion.

How We Help At Istar Machining

Our CNC machining service can make parts from many corrosion-resistant materials:

• Stainless Steel parts with high precision
• Titanium parts for medical and aerospace
• Aluminum parts for many uses
• Plastic parts that do not rust

We help pick the right material for your job. We know which materials work best in different places.

Summary

Picking materials that do not rust is very important. The right choice depends on:

• Where the part will be used
• What it will touch
• How much you can spend

The best corrosion-resistant materials are:

• Stainless Steel (304, 316L)
• Titanium
• Aluminum Alloys (6061, 7075)
• Nickel Alloys (Inconel, Monel)
• Polymers (PTFE, PVDF)
• Ceramics

At Istar Machining, we help make parts that last. We pick the right materials and use our CNC machines to make high-quality parts that fight rust.

Get Help With Your Project

Do you need parts that do not rust? We can help! Istar Machining has the tools and know-how to make corrosion-resistant parts just for you.

Contact us today to learn more!

[^1]: Stainless steel data from SyBridge test results showing 316L performs best in chloride environments. [^2]: Aluminum alloy properties from Protolabs anodizing tests showing 500+ hour salt spray resistance. [^3]: Titanium performance data from aerospace industry standards showing <1% corrosion mass loss after 10+ years in service.