Stainless steel is at least 10.5% chromium. After combining with oxygen, air forms chromium oxide that forms a layer on the stainless steel. This layer is not visible, but it makes the connection between the air and Metal is gone and stainless steel remains. The more chromium and some other elements in nickel-molybdenum alloy reinforce this layer and increase the stainless steel’s stainlessness.
Steel 304 contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel if stainless steel 316 contains 16% chromium 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. Molybdenum is added to help with corrosion resistance to chloride (such as seawater) Stainless Steel Series 300, which contains nickel, is not absorbed by the magnet and is not referred to as steel, if the 400 series, which does not contain nickel and only chromium, absorbs magnetically and is referred to as steel. Significant amounts of stainless steel sheet can be called brilliant, beautiful, smooth and polished, rustless or corrosion over time.