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COR-TEN® STEEL

Today's popular exterior and interior design element is COR-TEN® steel, which is often referred to simply as 'rusty steel'. But is it really just a simple sheet of steel covered with rust or is Cor-ten the pioneer of a completely new architectural trend?

WHAT IS COR-TEN® STEEL?

Cor-ten steel is actually a weather-resistant steel alloy covered with a patina layer, which was initially only used in industrial environments, and later became one of the most popular materials in modern architecture.

The name of the material is actually a combination of words: COR-TEN

COR: Corrosion resistance TEN: Tensile strength

Cor-ten steel is designed to be maintenance free. With the right process, a patina layer forms within a few months (noble rust), which is not only aesthetically beneficial, but also preserves the material.

THE ORIGIN OF COR-TEN® STEEL

Cor-ten steel originates from the United States. In the 1930s, the U.S. STEEL STEEL has developed a special steel alloy called "Cor-ten steel".

The invention was originally used for the construction of railway coal carriages, later it was used in the design of bridge constructions, various tanks, silos, ships and chassis. These areas required materials with high tensile strength that did not require frequent care or maintenance. Thus, Cor-ten proved to be an excellent choice.

In the 1960s, "rust steel" began to be used more widely, leading to it becoming one of the most popular outdoor design elements and cladding materials. This was mainly due to its special patina layer.

In Europe and in our country, it became really popular much later, in the middle and end of the 2000s. Today, we are talking about one of the most sought-after outdoor design solutions. It is often chosen as a material for flower boxes, raised beds, and room dividers .

In recent years, many "replicas", so-called 'weathering steel' appeared on the market, which can be considered a kind of Cor-ten substitute. These are actually not genuine Cor-ten products.

The original COR-TEN® steel raw material is produced in Europe by SSAB under the license of US Steel Corporation.

Corten acél virágláda - Rézmű Kft.

PATINA LAYER, OR "NOBLE RUST"

The patina layer gives the special effect of COR-TEN® steel. This is formed after appropriate environmental influences on the steel, such as rain or humid weather (but it can also be caused by watering). In the beginning, this only means a thin layer of rust, which primarily plays a preservative role: it protects the steel from deep structural corrosion. Over time, as a result of new rains, new and new layers are formed on the surface, which no longer penetrates the structure of the steel, but only adheres to the surface rust layer. This forms another protective layer on the material. At first, the color of the steel changes from a light orange shade to brown, then turns into a very dark, almost black color decades later. Due to the oxidation process, the initial color changes are already visible after a few weeks, at most one and a half to two months. If someone specifically wants a certain shade of color, in some cases it may take up to one and a half to two years to achieve the desired tone. The process can be accelerated with various preparations.
Exactly what color the steel will be and how quickly it reaches its "final" state depends on environmental factors: humidity, salt air, UV radiation, etc. Of course, there is no truly final state, as the color of COR-TEN® steel changes from year to year. The oxidation process is aided by the sulfur-rich atmosphere and the frequent alternation of wet and dry weather conditions. The formation of a real Cor-ten patina layer requires a suitable steel material. This is the so-called A242, A588, A847 and A606 steels, which are extremely resistant and are not characterized by structural corrosion. However, they are not against everything either. For example, stagnant water also destroys this material, which can of course be eliminated with proper drainage.

ADVANTAGES OF COR-TEN® STEEL

DISADVANTAGES OF COR-TEN® STEEL

Corten acél virágláda - Rézmű Kft.
Corten acél virágláda - Rézmű Kft.
Corten acél virágláda - Rézmű Kft.
Corten acél virágláda - Rézmű Kft.
Corten acél fatároló - Rézmű Kft.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? - PRICE OF COR-TEN® STEEL

Before discussing the price of COR-TEN®, it is important to mention that it is an "eternal" product that you only need to buy once and never spend more on it. In other words, the price of the material must be examined with this in mind.

Materials with similar uses are no longer as durable: wood rots over time, and concrete cracks. So while these materials may have a lower initial outlay, they are actually more expensive in the long run than Cor-ten steel.

The raw material of Cor-ten steel is slightly more expensive than mild steel. At the same time, the exact amount also depends on the size of the plates, their quantity and weight.

The price of items made of Cor-ten steel, such as: flower boxes, raised beds, room dividers, wooden containers, garden furniture, etc. it mostly depends on the exact type and size.

We recommend that you visit our online store, where you can choose from COR-TEN® steel items in stock. And if you need unique solutions, contact us at our contact details: Rézmű Ltd. – Contact us.

BUY COR-TEN® STEEL

If you want to buy a truly original COR-TEN® steel product with the U.S. STEEL trademark, visit our colleagues!

Our company has been producing Cor-ten steel products since 2014. You can meet our works in many domestic and foreign locations, some of which were made using Cor-ten steel.

For example: Vígadó, Opera House, Hilton Budapest, Herend Porcelain Palace, Normafa Rendezvényház, Szeged Cathedral, Archbishop Vadász Castle, Wenckheim Castle + famous buildings of major European cities.

Whatever your idea you have, we will realize it for you. If it is still not feasible, we can provide alternative ideas for solution.

Rézmű Ltd.
+36 30 854 9369
info@rezmu.hu
6000 Kecskemét Csillag utca 4.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cor-ten steel is actually a weather-resistant steel alloy covered with a patina layer, which was initially only used in industrial environments, and later became one of the most popular materials in modern architecture.

Cor-ten steel can be used in many ways. It is one of the types of steel often used in industrial environments for bridges, pillars, silos, tanks and other braces. In architecture, they are mostly used as room dividers, flower beds, wood storage, garden furniture or design elements.

By using the appropriate steel material, Cor-ten steel is resistant to weather conditions, e.g. rain, UV radiation or high humidity. However, its resistance decreases under extreme conditions (high chlorine content, stagnant water). Under the right conditions, Cor-ten steel can last more than 100 years.

The color of the patina layer is constantly changing. It is initially light orange, then brown, and finally turns into a very dark, almost black color (decades later). The exact color depends on the environmental effects, the raw material of the steel and the correct use.

Cor-ten steel is made from A242, A588, A847 and A606 steel alloys. Only and exclusively these raw materials are capable of forming a suitable patina layer and maintaining long-term resistance. Other types of steel do not provide satisfactory results.

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