slowing down rust

[Geoff Sykes]

Don --

Thanks for this explanation. It makes sense. Rust happens. In higher
temperatures, it just happens quicker. 

-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Don
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 11:40 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: slowing down rust


Hi Geoff,

Rust is simply iron that is oxidizing. The only ways to stop rust are to
remove 100% of iron oxide down to the molecular level (This may be
impossible to achieve on piano wire), or remove all oxygen from the air, or
have humidity at 0%.

How does temperature affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

When two chemicals react, their molecules have to collide with each other
with sufficient energy for the reaction to take place. This is collision
theory. The two molecules will only react if they have enough energy. By
heating the mixture, you will raise the energy levels of the molecules
involved in the reaction. Increasing temperature means the molecules move
faster. This is kinetic theory. 

Keeping the humidity level lower may slow the rusting process down. That's
why I suggested the "low" level controller from DamppChaser be used.

Such corrosion starts when relative humidity exceeds 65%. Once it has
started the best one can hope for is to slow it down.

It may be hard to prevent steel from rusting to some extent in almost any
ambient atmosphere, where temperature makes diurnal moves and there is some
moisture in the air.

At 07:53 PM 3/26/2006 -0800, you wrote:
>Um, I'm not quite sure I understand how raising the temperature could 
>increase the development of rust, unless the humidity remained, at the 
>very least, constant.
>
>-- Geoff

Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.P.T.
Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat

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