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Corten Steel

Last updated: November 22, 2016

What Does Corten Steel Mean?

Corten steel is a high strength weathering steel. The word “CorTen” is the trademark name given to a weathering steel alloy material originally produced by United States Steel. CorTen Steel is no longer produced in the United States.

This steel alloy falls into the category of those that were developed to reduce or eliminate the use of coats, primers or paints on the material to make it rustproof. When exposed to the environment, this steel forms an outer layer platina that protects this steel from corrosion. This is the reason why this steel is called weathering steel.

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Corrosionpedia Explains Corten Steel

CorTen steel or weathering steel is a corrosion-resistant material. When left uncoated, it forms a protective layer (platina) on the outer surface that protects this steel material from acidic environments and corrosion.

In industrial specifications, weathering steel is commonly known by the name “Cor 10.” This steel is available in sheets, plates, coils, angles, channels, pipes and tubes, and is available in the applicable equivalent ASTM specifications of ASTM A588, A242, A606-4, A847 and A709-50W.

This steel is used for outdoor structures where the opportunities for inspection are minimal or not possible, such as tall building structures, bridges, marine structures, etc.

The disadvantage of this steel is that it requires special welding techniques, which are expensive and only available from a few experts in this field. This steel material is not recommended for humid sub-tropical climates, as it is prone to rust from within if any water pockets are formed in the metal.

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