Does Aluminum Rust?
Aluminum does not rust because rust is iron oxide, and aluminum contains no iron. Instead, aluminum forms a thin, tightly bonded layer of aluminum oxide almost immediately when exposed to air. This oxide layer acts as a protective barrier and is the main reason aluminum has good corrosion resistance in many environments.
Aluminum can still corrode under certain conditions, especially where salt, chlorides, or trapped moisture are present, or when it is in contact with dissimilar metals that can cause galvanic corrosion. Corrosion on aluminum may appear as white or gray powdery areas, pitting, or surface roughness rather than red rust. Keeping aluminum clean, avoiding long term exposure to salt, and using proper isolation between dissimilar metals helps reduce corrosion.
