What corrosion is
Corrosion is progressive chemical or electrochemical attack on the chain steel. It reduces plate section, pits pin and bush surfaces and builds oxide that jams joints. In industrial chain it is usually the practical limiter on life in washdown, coastal and chemical plant duty.
Common causes
- Washdown with water, steam or caustic cleaning chemicals
- Coastal or humid atmospheres with airborne chlorides
- Acid or alkaline process splash and vapour
- Storage of spare chain in damp, unheated areas
Warning signs
- Surface rust bloom on plates, or white pitting on plated chain
- Stiff, rough joints that no longer articulate freely
- Oxide slurry weeping from bearings
- Rust staining on product or conveyor surfaces downstream
Prevention and correction
- Specify 304 or 316 stainless chain for washdown and coastal duty
- Use zinc or nickel plated chain for intermittent damp exposure
- Rinse and re-lubricate after cleaning instead of leaving caustic residue
- Store spare chain off the floor in a dry, ventilated area
Fix it with the right product
Stainless steel chain rangeNeed a second opinion?
Send us the chain, the running hours and a photo. Our engineers will confirm the failure mode and quote the right replacement.
All chain failure modes
Chain ElongationFatigue FailureSide Plate CrackingPin and Bush WearRoller Wear and SpallingAbrasive WearAdhesive WearCorrosionStress Corrosion CrackingHydrogen EmbrittlementGallingSurface PittingTensile OverloadShock LoadingImpact FractureLubrication StarvationTight Links and KinkingMisalignmentChordal ActionSprocket Tooth Wear
Same & Next-Day Delivery Areas
Roller chain supply across South Yorkshire & the North
Dispatched from our Rotherham depot — order by 1pm for next-working-day delivery, or collect same-day within our 30-mile radius.
RotherhamDepot location
Sheffield9 mi · ~25 min
Barnsley6 mi · ~15 min
Doncaster16 mi · ~30 min
Mexborough3 mi · ~8 min
Maltby5 mi · ~12 min
Wath-upon-Dearne4 mi · ~10 min
Wakefield20 mi · ~35 min
Leeds25 mi · ~45 min
Huddersfield30 mi · ~50 min
Scunthorpe22 mi · ~35 min
Mansfield28 mi · ~45 min
Chesterfield18 mi · ~30 min
Worksop14 mi · ~25 min