Does Stainless Steel Rust?In general, stainless steel does not rust, but if it is used or maintained improperly, or in a harsh environment, it will rust or tarnish, for example, the photo above shows a stainless steel shackle on a cruise ship corrodes due to long-term exposure to the marine environment, the surface appears brown rust and spots.The reason why stainless steel does not rust is because it contains chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). These two metal elements will form a dense oxide film w...