Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The author states that "one of iron’s unalterable properties is that it rusts" yet further on acknowledges the existence of stainless Even stainless steel rusts, just more slowly. Roughly 10-100x more slowly, judging by https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1124/ML112490377.pdf and https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/23/8705/pdf .
What are car mufflers made of that they resist rust so well?
I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic but mufflers rust quite a bit.