Will chrome rust easier than stainless steel?

Answer 1

Chrome won't rust. That's why it's plated over steel. But any tiny crack or flaw in the chrome plating can allow rust to penetrate the "skin" of chrome and attack the metal beneath. As the chrome barrier is compromised, the rust continues to spread. More and more steel is attacked and breaks down. Stainless steel is (usually) designed so the steel (iron with a bit of carbon) is alloyed with a small percentage of chromium in it. This chromium is what makes the stainless steel resistant to attack. Stainless steel resists attack by rust "all the time" while chrome plated steel resists attack by rust only until any flaw or crack appears or is created. It is then vulnerable to attack. A scratch on stainless steel, while unsightly, is not going to open a path for attack by rust. Note: Rust doesn't "attack" steel. It forms as the metal is chemically attacked. The oxidized iron that appears after the chemical attack is the rust.

Answer 2

Yes, chrome will generally rust more easily than stainless steel because stainless steel is an alloy that contains chromium, which forms a protective oxide layer on the surface that helps prevent rusting. Chrome plating, on the other hand, is a thin layer of chromium applied over a base metal, which can be more prone to rust if the plating is damaged.