COR-TEN® Steel BY IDEA
The main purpose of this article is to provide detailed information about the properties of Cor-Ten material, designed by our company with an architectural design.
The Cor-Ten panel is an aesthetically pleasing and high-strength facade cladding method. It is a completely natural material like carbon steel, also referred to as rusted, corroded, or tumbled steel.
What are the advantages of Cor-Ten material?
- The oxidation that occurs on the surface extends the strength and life of the metal by forming a protective layer. It is preferred, especially in facade cladding, as a maintenance-free, durable, and long-lasting material;
As a natural rusty material, the Cor-Ten panel does not need paint or high-priced anti-rust materials and has an extremely aesthetic appearance.
COR-TEN® Production Specifications:
• Laser cutting with a CNC machine: precise cutting of metal plates and pipes of various thicknesses.
• Metal bending: reduces the need for welding the pieces together;
• Welding with gas;
• Sanding with sandpaper no. 40;
Features and Cycles of COR-TEN's Aging:
COR-TEN steel, through the process of maturation/oxidation that characterizes it, is considered a "live" material, which may vary over time in shades and hues, depending on the shape of the object, the position in which it is installed, and according to the cycles of weathering that the object undergoes.
IDEA activates the maturation of corten steel using a system of natural oxidation through weathering, thus favouring non-invasive techniques for the environment. This natural system gives corten steel a particular non-uniform aspect and different shades of colour.
The shades of colour, therefore, are not a defect.
IDEA purchases COR-TEN from SSAB, which has an official patent to sell it worldwide.
1. The first appearance/shades of a product start to change approximately 2 months after its natural citation.
2. The natural oxidized product's appearance shades after 4–6 months of installation.
3. The appearance of the product finalizes at the end of the period of oxidation, after about 12–24 months of installation.
Maintenance:
You can repair minor surface defects (smears, dents, stains). If the corten is natural or raw, rub down the surface with a piece of steel wool to eliminate the defect. Then moisten with water and place the product on the outside until the part returns to the surface characteristics of the rest of the piece.
