What is corten steel?

Corten Steel also known as weathering steel has increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion. This steel develops a protective layer of oxide on its surface. Corten Steel has superior resistance to a variety of corrosions with great yield strength. Also, it provides overall lower costs with better efficiency and durability and is perfect for all heavy-duty applications such as bridgework. It involves the addition of silicon, nickel, chromium, phosphorus, and copper in a small amount.

Chemical composition of corten steel:

• Carbon, c – 0.15%
• Silicon, Si – 0.25 – 0.75%
• Manganese, Mn – 0.02 – 0.50%
• Phosphorus, P – 0.07 – 0.15%
• Sulfur, S – 0.030%
• Aluminum, Al – 0.015 – 0.06 %
• Copper, Cu – 0.25 – 0.55%
• Chromium, Cr – 0.50 – 1.25%
• Nickel, Ni – 0.65%

What are the benefits of corten steel?

Its corrosion resistance property is one of the most remarkable benefits of the corten steel. Due to this, it is one of the most preferred materials for buildings and bridges directly exposed to various corrosive environments. Rusting is considered a dangerous process for other steel materials but in the case of corten steel it plays a protective role, corten steel undergoes a process called useful corrosion. Additionally, corten steel requires very low maintenance and is economical in long run, having excellent strength.

Applications and uses of corten steel:

Corten steel has a wide range of applications in outdoor sculptures, security applications, fences, bollards, gates, signposts, roofing, siding, stormwater management, garden designs, landscapes, special industry conditions, large types of machinery exposed to the atmosphere, coal mining machinery, engine machinery, construction, bridges, containers, railway wagon, sulfuric acid dew points, shipping containers.

Rusting capabilities of corten steel:

Corten steel is resistant to almost all corrosive atmospheres and has great resistance to pitting corrosion, uniform corrosion, galvanic corrosion, stress cracking corrosion (SCC), intergranular corrosion (IGC), crevice corrosion, etc. as corten steel has a layer of rust that protects it from various corrosions to a great extent.