What Exactly Is Rust?

Rust is the common name for iron oxide, otherwise known as Fe2O3. Rust is prevalent because iron combines very easily with oxygen. Rusting is an instance of corrosion. Three ingredients combine to result in iron oxide: iron, oxygen, and water.

The best way you can prevent rust is by keeping your steel or iron away from these two elements. You can do this by painting the surface with a rust preventive coating. Cimcool Global Industrial Fluids produces the Cimguard® line of corrosion and rust inhibitors for the metalworking industry.

Galvination is the process of coating steel with an extremely thin coating of zinc. Many automotive manufacturers use this type of coating on vehicle body panels to prevent corrosion. When left unprotected, galvanized coatings have a finite lifespan. Lifespan depends oh the thickness of the zinc coating. Other corrosion-preventative coatings, such as paint can dramatically lengthen the lifespan of the zinc coating.

Those who live in humid climates have more of a problem with rust than their neighbors in drier climates. If you live in a humid area, it pays to keep your tools in a climate-controlled part of your house or shop. Dehumidifiers can help, but they can be expensive to purchase and use. Since this isn’t the most practical or cost-effective solution, you may want to consider using rechargeable silica gel desiccants. These are extremely effective at eliminating moisture in enclosed areas like storage containers, drawers, toolboxes, etc. A good silica gel desiccant will provide valuable protection against rust, corrosion, oxidation, mold and mildew for years.
Silica gel is an inert, non-toxic, non-flammable drying agent. In spite of its name, it is not a gel, but rather a granular form of silica which is synthetically made from sodium silicate. Silica gel is one of the highest capacity adsorbent agents available on the market today. Silica gel attracts and holds moisture by using tiny inter-connected pores that take advantage of the principles of absorption and capillary condensation. Even when saturated, silica gel looks and feels dry, and is used to safely protect foods, medicines, sensitive materials, and so on.