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Weathering steel
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Weathering steel
Weathering steel, often called corten steel (or its trademarked name, COR-TEN) is a group of steel alloys that form a stable external layer of rust that eliminates the need for painting.
U.S. Steel (USS) holds the registered trademark on the name COR-TEN. The name COR-TEN refers to the two distinguishing properties of this type of steel: corrosion resistance and tensile strength. Although USS sold its discrete plate business to International Steel Group (now ArcelorMittal) in 2003, it makes COR-TEN branded material in strip mill plate and sheet forms.
The original COR-TEN received the standard designation A242 (COR-TEN A) from the ASTM International standards group. Newer ASTM grades are A588 (COR-TEN B) and A606 for thin sheet. All of the alloys are in common production and use.
The surface oxidation generally takes six months to develop, although surface treatments can accelerate this to as little as one hour.
The history of weathering steels began in the US in 1910s, when steels alloyed with different amounts of copper were exposed to the elements; the research continued into the 1920s and c. 1926 it was discovered that phosphorus content also helps with the corrosion resistance.
In 1933 the United States Steel Corporation decided to commercialize the results of their studies and patented a steel with exceptional mechanical resistance, primarily for use in railroad hopper cars, for the handling of heavy bulk loads including coal, metal ores, other mineral products and grain. The controlled corrosion for which this material is now best known was a welcome benefit discovered soon after, prompting USS to apply the trademarked name Cor-Ten. Because of its inherent toughness, this steel is still used extensively for bulk transport, intermodal shipping containers and bulk storage.
Railroad passenger cars were also being built with Cor-Ten, albeit painted, by Pullman-Standard for the Southern Pacific from 1936, continuing through commuter coaches for the Rock Island Line in 1949.
In 1964, the Moorestown Interchange was built over New Jersey Turnpike at milepost 37.02. This overpass is believed to be the first highway structure application of weathering steel. Other states including Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan followed soon after. Those were followed by University of York Footbridge in the United Kingdom in 1967. Since then, the practice of using weathering steel in bridges has expanded to many countries.
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Weathering steel
Weathering steel, often called corten steel (or its trademarked name, COR-TEN) is a group of steel alloys that form a stable external layer of rust that eliminates the need for painting.
U.S. Steel (USS) holds the registered trademark on the name COR-TEN. The name COR-TEN refers to the two distinguishing properties of this type of steel: corrosion resistance and tensile strength. Although USS sold its discrete plate business to International Steel Group (now ArcelorMittal) in 2003, it makes COR-TEN branded material in strip mill plate and sheet forms.
The original COR-TEN received the standard designation A242 (COR-TEN A) from the ASTM International standards group. Newer ASTM grades are A588 (COR-TEN B) and A606 for thin sheet. All of the alloys are in common production and use.
The surface oxidation generally takes six months to develop, although surface treatments can accelerate this to as little as one hour.
The history of weathering steels began in the US in 1910s, when steels alloyed with different amounts of copper were exposed to the elements; the research continued into the 1920s and c. 1926 it was discovered that phosphorus content also helps with the corrosion resistance.
In 1933 the United States Steel Corporation decided to commercialize the results of their studies and patented a steel with exceptional mechanical resistance, primarily for use in railroad hopper cars, for the handling of heavy bulk loads including coal, metal ores, other mineral products and grain. The controlled corrosion for which this material is now best known was a welcome benefit discovered soon after, prompting USS to apply the trademarked name Cor-Ten. Because of its inherent toughness, this steel is still used extensively for bulk transport, intermodal shipping containers and bulk storage.
Railroad passenger cars were also being built with Cor-Ten, albeit painted, by Pullman-Standard for the Southern Pacific from 1936, continuing through commuter coaches for the Rock Island Line in 1949.
In 1964, the Moorestown Interchange was built over New Jersey Turnpike at milepost 37.02. This overpass is believed to be the first highway structure application of weathering steel. Other states including Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan followed soon after. Those were followed by University of York Footbridge in the United Kingdom in 1967. Since then, the practice of using weathering steel in bridges has expanded to many countries.
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