Sometimes metal just plain rusts

Our stainless steel forks and knives, which in England were literally stainless, even spotless, for years, here on Fuerteventura developed rust stains in a matter of days. What’s the matter?

I found this lovely quote from Brion Toss’s book [1]:

Sometimes metal just plain rusts. Stainless steel rusts more slowly, but tropical climates will get to it in just a few years. Galvanized steel left untended can dissolve in a matter of months.

Well said, but what exactly is wrong with “tropical climates”? High humidity and high temperature, that’s what.

But wait. Humidity in Fuerteventura is not higher than in England, right? We hardly have any rain on this island. But the temperature is definitely higher. As is the case with most chemical reactions, the corrosion rate increases with increasing temperature. Add to this salt air. (Salt acts as a catalyst of rusting.) No wonder cars rust quickly here.

Ah well, we always can use the chopsticks.

1. Toss, B. (1998) The Complete Rigger's Apprentice: Tools and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging. International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press, Camden, Maine.