A588 high quality weathering steel

Corten is another name for weathering steel. Essentially, steel rusts well and develops a beautiful patina that many people love. It contains very small amounts of chromium, nickel and copper, making it weather resistant, making it suitable for structural applications.

Weathering steel does not prevent rusting. In fact, the material changes the way rust affects the structure. The presence of chromium, nickel and copper increases the weather resistance of the material. It allows the rust to dry faster and thicker, creating a beautiful patina.

However, instead of weakening the structure, rust creates a paint-like layer on the material. The coating protects the unreacted material from the atmosphere and allows the material to retain its load-bearing capacity and thickness for longer.

Many sculptors and architects prefer it for aesthetic reasons. The natural patina it develops over time adds rustic charm and character to many structures.

ASTM A588 Grade A and A588 Grade B have strong atmospheric corrosion resistance, due to the formation of a protective oxide film on the metal surface, A588 weathering steel manufacturers can slow down further corrosion, so it has excellent corrosion resistance than ordinary carbon steel . Both are high-strength low-alloy weathering steels with minimum yield strength properties of 50,000, which can reduce costs by designing lighter sections into the structure.

These steels are primarily designed for unpainted applications where maintenance costs such as painting are reduced. Since its development, weathering steel has been used in a variety of applications, including bridges, railcars, cranes, transmission towers, highway poles, chemical plants, factories, and true health and medical shipbuilding.

A588 is suitable for many applications in the unpainted condition. When properly exposed to the atmosphere, the atmospheric corrosion resistance of A588 is significantly better than that of carbon steels such as A36 and A572-50 with or without copper additions.