Metallurgy Questions

I'm not sure this is the right forum but it was my best guess.

2 questions...

1. When I wash stainless steel with one of those 3M green scotch brite pads, there is an odor produced. It doesn't matter if it is a stainless bowl, pot or the sink itself. What is going on here?

2. When someone in the house forgets (not me ) and puts my magnalite pot in the dishwasher, it takes on a much darker color. I dont know if it is magnesium or just thick aluminum. I can put it back I the sink and use the scotch brite again and scrub off the oxidation. Is this harmful either to leave it nor scrub it off?

Thanks for providing some knowledge and insight!

I think the answer to both questions is oxidation. I'm really not sure what magnalite is, but if it has aluminum in it then it's probably reacting to something in the dishwashing soap. Stainless steel is constantly refinishing itself, and the odor is probably part of that process.

Link to magna lite cookware info.

http://fantes.com/magnalite.html