Pentagon declares war on rust

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/01/pentagon-declares-war-on-rust.ars

by shawndumas • 16 years ago

28 11 16 years ago

arstechnica.com

barrkel• 16 years ago

I'm sure we can solve this with spray-on glass.

civilian• 16 years ago

Yes! Especially since SiO2 comes pre-rusted.

iwwr• 16 years ago

How expensive (or otherwise impractical) is stainless steel, compared to regular steel?

CapitalistCartr• 16 years ago

I work (partly) with the marine industry, where stainless is a common metal. The main problem is that there are many alloys of iron, of which that is only one, and each has its various benefits. Most bolts are rated grade 1-8. If a grade specific bolt is specified, then stainless is a problem. Or if vanadium (spring) steel is needed. Etc., etc.

jws• 16 years ago

Stainless steel can have surprising failure modes. For instance, crevice corrosion[1].

The shiny stainless steel fittings holding up your sailboat mast can corrode straight through without more than some tiny telltale signs.

You can see an example here: http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=107622 The manufacturing likely provided a tiny crack, splash a little salt water and next thing you know your sailboat's mast is in the water next to it trying to bash a hole in the hull.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crevice_corrosion

dtegart• 16 years ago

Stainless steel is also quite hard which means it can be a bit more brittle than milder steels, and probably not appropriate for some applications. Springs come to mind and any time the steel will have to dissipate heat quickly.

gnok• 16 years ago

Is it just me, or is the entire 'War on X' meme beginning to get annoying?

elliottkember• 16 years ago

There's only one way to stop this trend...

Figs• 16 years ago

Yes... he must declare a War on 'War on X'!

bradleyland• 16 years ago

I'm not entirely certain that this was the first use of the phrase, but the "War on Drugs" started before I was even born (the seventies). To say it is "beginning" to get annoying is to say that my avocado colored bathroom is beginning to look a little dated.

srveit• 16 years ago

The War on Poverty is the name for legislation first introduced by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson during his State of the Union address on January 8, 1964. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Poverty

Pentagon declares war on rust

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