Fr Robert Ballecer, SJ On episode 127, It sounded like you said that steel rusts from carbon ...

[G+_610GARAGE]

Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ  On episode 127, It sounded like you said that steel rusts from carbon. I don't know if I misunderstood, or if you misspoke, but as a nerd who works a lot with metal; I feel the uncontrollable urge to correct you. :)

 

Steel rusts because of iron. Carbon content increases the hardness of the steel. Actually, I find that higher carbon content steels, like tool steel, rust slower.

 

While I find the idea of hydrophobic metals incredibly intriguing, I think there usefulness (atleast this execution of it) is extremely low. I could be wrong, but I don't see that metal being workable. If you try to weld it, your weld won't be hydrophobic, and most likely, the heat will distort the surface, making the area around the weld not hydrophobic. You could perform the process after the item has been made, but then the inward facing surfaces won't be treated, which is where rust usually starts. And you won't be able to work on the metal afterwards. However, if they can perform the process in a more cost effective way, it would be interesting to see what it is used for.

 

PS.  Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Thanks for answering my question on the show.

[G+_Ernest de Leon]

Yes, it is actually the iron that oxidizes hence iron oxide or Fe2O3. Otherwise, carbon oxidizing would yield CO2 and become a gas. :)

[G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ]

Did I say that? --- dang...

 

I was talking about the oxidation of Al and Fe and even Cu... why in the world did I bring carbon into the mix? 

 

doh.

[G+_Ernest de Leon]

I think carbon came into the mix when you were talking about stainless steel vs regular steel. No biggie, I definitely understood where you were going with it. :)

[G+_610GARAGE]

Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ  Maybe you were thinking of carbon steel, and got mixed up. That kind of thing happens to me all the time. But if I were you, I'd blame it on Bryan Burnett for not being there to back you up. :)