"...... once rust is formed, there is mobile oxygen in the metal, and the oxygen can move deeper into the metal causing further rust."
the result of a thing called cation exchange, which us master composters are very familiar with
rusting is definitely an organic process
see this about rust - rust never sleeps, once it starts the only way to kill/stop/cause-it-to-not-exist, it is remove it, either mechanically or w/ a converter - your question was to do w/
further rusting, which will happen to a degree that will cause further expansion and damage the coating
Bill
