A comparison between Corten Steel & it's alternatives

Corten steel is a popular type of steel, used specifically in extreme weather conditions due to its high level of weather and corrosion resistance. While Corten steel is extremely popular, it can be considerably harder to source than standard Euronorm designated materials. This blog post will outline the properties of Corten steel and its alternatives, to provide an insight into other grades of steel that may be suitable for your application.

Benefits of Corten Steel are

Speaking of Corten Steel, specialised Corten Steel is used for proper functioning. corten steel ASTM a242 type 1 plate sheet is one leading Manufacturer, Supplier & Stockist Of Corten Steel.

  • Low Maintenance
  • Lower Initial Cost
  • Speed of Construction
  • Attractive Appearance
  • Environmentally Friendly
  • Resistant to Higher Temperature

Materials make the core of a building. They can make or break the conceptual ideology, philosophy, and aesthetics of a design. Architects have always preferred the use of mild steel and carbon steel in construction for their ability to transform building design into more than a grid structure and its sturdy nature through the properties of resistance.

But can we as designers transition to alternative materials as opposed to the typical methodologies of building construction? Weathering steel, also known as Corten steel, is a sustainable alternative that can be considered a replacement for mild or carbon steel that is otherwise popularly chosen for the construction of buildings.

Weathering steel is a high-strength low alloy steel that comes from a family of low carbon steels with additional alloying elements mixed in with the carbon and iron atoms. It was originally developed by the United States in the 1930s and given the popular name of Cor-ten. Weathering steel was initially used only for outdoor applications, more commonly bridges because of its comparatively better strength and higher corrosion resistance than typical low carbon steel grades.

CorTen Steel Alternative

Corten Steel is a United States Steel Corporation (USS) trade name for an atmospheric corrosion resistant steel developed to be used where higher strength and longer life cycle materials are desired.

 These steels naturally form a layer of rust or patina when exposed to various atmospheric conditions. This patina is what guards this material against future corrosion.

 As CorTen became more popular over the years, other producing mills began to develop their own atmospheric corrosion resistant steel. Therefore, ASTM stepped in and created a CorTen steel alternative that is considered equivalent specifications to CorTen in most applications.

The ASTM applicable equivalent specifications are

  • A588
  • A242
  • A606-4
  • A847
  • A871-65
  • A709-50W

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