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Hey everyone, I'm curious about something pretty fundamental: How do you choose the right gear material when it's going to be used in a corrosive environment? I'm thinking about applications where gears might be exposed to things like seawater, certain chemicals, or even just consistently high humidity.
Obviously, regular steel is out, unless you're prepared for constant maintenance or replacement. But what are the best alternatives? I've seen stainless steel mentioned frequently, specifically 316, but I'm wondering about other options like certain polymers or composite materials. What are the trade-offs in terms of strength, cost, and resistance to different types of corrosion?
anyone have experience with specific applications or materials that have worked well (or completely failed!)? I'm particularly interested in hearing about situations where weight is also a factor, as that seems like it would limit some of the more obvious choices. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!