when "mild" steel and "stainless" are used together, then corrosion will cross the molecular boundary from the "mild" steel to the "stainless", causing the "stainless" to corrode - to a greater or lesser extent depending on what the two varieties of steel are. The "stainless" will, however corrode at a much reduced rate.
It is only Aluminium Alloy which turns to white powder (Al Oxide), in the same method that iron returns to its Natural red powder (Fe Oxide).
The only way to reduce this is to
remove oxygen from the surfaces ( a barrier)
stop an electrolyte from being present ( a barrier).