this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2024
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Tesla's Cybertruck may not be so stainless after all::'Literally bulletproof' but needs constant cleaning to stave off corrosion

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Stainless is not stain proof. Different grades of stainless have different levels of rust resistance depending mostly on chrome, nickel, molybdenum, and carbon levels, but even the most resistant grade will rust under some conditions. The primary method of rust protection, what makes stainless stainless, is a continuous layer of chrome oxide on the surface. The problem is that layer is weak to chlorides like salt or bleach so exposure to such can allow rust to begin. Adding more nickel, more chrome, and more moly can help but nothing is rust proof, even extreme marine grades like 317L can rust.

Edit: the cybertruck is made using their own "30X" grade. The most common is 304 or 18/8, which has around 18% chrome and 8% nickel. 302 has less, 309 has more. I would bet it is near 304 as that is the most common austenitic (nonmagnetic) stainless steel. This grade does not have the molybdenum added to "marine stainless" grades like 316 and 317. That molybdenum provides some resistance to chlorides which is why it is used in marine applications and commercial kitchens. It is also quite a bit more expensive.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

same as my underwear bitch what do you think about that

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago

I saw one in person 2 days ago. I took a picture, and none of my coworkers think it's a real picture (or that I took it).

It was surreal. I could see it coming from WAY down the road and I was thinking to myself "there is absolutely no way I am seeing a cybertruck right now"

I am dumbfounded they actually made them. I still can't believe what I saw the other day

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago

Tesla is just recognizing that each cybertruck owner has different color preferences, so they deliver the cybertruck without any paint or coating so the owners can coat it themselves /s

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's relatively common for nice metal bikes to go the unfinished metal route...if they're made of titanium.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Even so, my friend's ti bike has stains on it that he can't get out sort of polishing/ brushing it

[–] [email protected] 34 points 9 months ago

lol. Cybertrucks are looking like my sink.

They should invest heavily in Barkeepers Friend. Works pretty well on the sink.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago

Tesla has been pretty good at selling vehicles, even really expensive ones. This one has been kind of bizarre though. From the massive and strange body to the issues in production, I'm not sure if we'll start seeing these become more common on the road.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Real stainless steel does not rust. I brew beer and daily soak down my stainless steel sink/kettles daily. Even harsh chemicals (muritiac acid, chlorinated caustic soda) don't affect it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

What makes stainless steel stainless is that it corrodes quickly, uniformly and forms a dense rich en Cr carbide coating (I dont know how it is called in english). This reduces the rate at which it corrodes enormously. This is the same on most "corrosion resistant" metals and alloys, like aluminium, titanium and zirconium.

There are multiple grades of SS, some of them are better at halting corrosion than others. And given the right environment (chemical + temperature) it will ultimately corrode.

Some geometrical obstacles* can produce other, more localized, types of corrosion... again, sorry, I dont know the technical words in english.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Theres no such thing as "real stainless". Stainless steel 304 is corrosion resistant, it's the cheapest and most common. 316 is better at corrosion resistance and is "marine grade" since it will hold up better to salt water. 316L is some of the best at resisting corrosion, it's more expensive than 304 and is used in lab and surgical equipment. There are a lot of other types, like 309 for higher heat applications, etc.

Cybertruck is probably made from 304.

Definately not supprised that cybertrucks are having this issue. Especially with road salt in the winter. I'm sure the engineers at Tesla saw this coming too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Not the cheapest, there's 17-4 and 18-8 before 304.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago

I am not an expert - just an avid knife freak - but in my experience "Stainless" means "Stain Less" not "Stain Resistent". Eg. s35vn is relatively high quality stainless knife steel - that does not mean it ain't gonna pickup stains - all mine did... I suspect one of the differences between my knifes / Elons Cybertruck vs. your cookware is that your cookware is mirror polished while my knives and the cybertruck are sporting "satin finish" which looks quite esthetically first 5 mnts - but is quite inpractical...

[–] [email protected] 15 points 9 months ago (1 children)

There are a lot of grades of stainless, but they all can rust. What you're doing with your kettles is unlikely to cause rust, because you are actively cleaning them daily. Letting a contaminant sit on them and periodically get wet without being cleaned our dried is a worst case scenario, and also what constantly happens to cars.

https://www.unifiedalloys.com/blog/stainless-grades-families

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah and Musk used the chinesium (capitalist) grade, cheapest possible garbage

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago
[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Isn't that the butler's job?

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