Can galvanised and stainless steel metals touch each other with out causing...

[Nelly]

...corrosion?
the reason i ask is stainless bolts are commonly used with galvanised metals for their superior strength but I was under the impression that dissimalir metals corrode when they come into contact

[steven s]

The simple answer is yes,it can corrode.

[presumingeric]

All metals oxidise or corrode.
Metals which appear not to corrode ie aluminim or stainless steel either corrode very slowly or the corrosion product forms a protective layer.

The oxide of mild steel (rust) iron oxide is porrous and therefore allows continued corrosion until the original metal completely oxidises.

the oxide layer on the surface of Aluminium which is dull grey in colour is non porrous and therefore forms a protective coating agianst further oxidisation

With stainless steel which is steel with a high chromium content approx 12ish %. Does the same thing

Galvanised steel is simply mild steel which has been dipped in zinc. Which again forms a protective non porrous barier to oxygen.
If the galvanised layer is broken or damaged corrosion will occur at a faster rate than normal due to galvanic action between the zinc and the mild steel in contact with oxygen.
Placing stainless steel in contact with galvanised steel will cause increased corrosion in the metal which is higher on the noble table of metals. The higher a metal is the more it will corrode in contact with a lower metal.

[bravozulu]

I think you usually get corrosion when the metals are different. If galvanized and stainless steel touch each other, they still need to have some current to cause any corrosion.

[redbeardthegiant]

Zinc can cause soft metal embrittlement of stainless. It takes only a very very little zinc; I read of a case where a galvanized beam was burnt off [with a cutting torch] near a SS distillation column, and that was enough zinc to make the column crack.

You can get corrosion with dissimilar metals !

And, yes, stainless can and does corrode.

However, if you touch them in mild and dry conditions, I doubt you'd have any great problems very fast.

[zeenme]

Stainless steel will corrode if contaminated by a corrodable material ie we cannot do any mild steel work near stainless even the dust will lay on and rot if you have ever noticed cheap bathroom stuff will rust very quickly as it has almost certainly been made in a contaminated area.

[taxed till i die,]

Stainless steel does not corrode.