I've just been clearing up some piles of ...well...things that needed clearing up, amongst which were three or four knackered reeds from goodness knows where that I intended to recycle as staples.
When dismantled the "eye" end of the aluminium staple had oxidised considerably and there was white powder clinging to both inside and outside the eye.
This stuff is horrible. Before Alcan were obliged to clean up so rigorously they discharged it into the area round here and we have a layer in our loft from way back. Every time building work takes place up there it comes down, with deleterious effects on my / our breathing.
A reed staple only has a small amount on it, but nevertheless I think I'd not be inclined to use aluminium staples if its going to do that inside a reed.
Just a thought
Julia