Corrosion vs. Rust: What’s the Difference?

What is corrosion?

Corrosion is the gradual breakdown of metals caused by chemical reactions between the metal and its environment. Although some are more resistant than others, all metals are susceptible to corrosion. The most common cause of corrosion is exposure to moisture and oxygen.

Corrosion can take many forms, including pitting, cracking, or general surface wear; it affects various types of metal in different ways. For example, aluminum corrodes differently than steel. The key thing to remember is that corrosion doesn’t always look the same.

What is rust?

Rust is a form of corrosion. Here’s the catch: it only happens to iron and its alloys like steel. Rust happens when iron reacts with oxygen and water; This reaction leads to iron oxide, which forms that familiar flaky orange-brown substance.

In short, rust is more specific than corrosion because it’s limited to iron-based metals. Corrosion is a more general term that applies to all metals. Rust is a big concern because it can completely destroy the integrity of the material over time.

How does rust and corrosion affect scrap metal recycling?

When it comes to scrap metal recycling, both rust and corrosion play a big role in the value and usability of the metal. Understanding how they affect the metal can help you make better decisions on what and when to recycle. Let’s explore:

• Rust Decreases Metal Value: Rust compromises the strength of iron and steel. Scrap yards want metals that are in good condition, even if they’ve been used. Heavily rusted metal loses a lot of its value because it’s harder to process and may not be salvageable at all.
• Corroded Metals Can Be Harder to Process: General corrosion can also complicate the recycling process. If aluminum has corroded, for example, it may form pits or surface wear that weakens the structure of the metal. This makes it harder for scrap yards to melt down and repurpose the material.

With that said, even rusted or corroded metal can often still be recycled. You won’t get the same payout for a heavily rusted car frame, for instance, as you would for one in better shape, but you can still get some cash out of a scrap metal buyer.

The moral of this article should be to take care of your metals and store them properly. Keeping scrap metals dry and sheltered from the elements can prevent rust and corrosion from setting in. This is especially true for metals like steel and iron.

Have metals to recycle? Just Scrap It!

Just Scrap It is your local scrap metal recycling company in Florida with a commitment to our community and environment. If you have a heap of scrap metals sitting around, then call Just Scrap It to have our crew come pick it up! We’re here to take your call or message today.