Glen Metals

COR-TEN
a coat for all
weathers

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Solutions in Steel

Quality
Glen Metals
The COR-TEN Specialists
ASD Glen Metals is part of the largest independent steel stockholding group in the
United Kingdom and is the leading UK Stockholder of COR-TEN products. We hold the
most comprehensive range of both standard and non-standard sizes of COR-TEN
sheet and plate in the UK. Furthermore, the company has extensive coil stocks from
which non-standard lengths can be cut.
With over 25 years experience of supplying COR-TEN products to UK industry, we have
successfully demonstrated our strong commitment to customer satisfaction in terms of
quality and reliability of service.
Our own extensive processing capabilities, backed by group resources, enable us to meet all your
needs in COR-TEN

COR-TEN
The steel that protects itself
COR-TEN is a high strength, low alloy, weldable
structural steel possessing excellent weathering
resistance. It may be used to advantage in the painted
or unpainted condition.
The steel owes its weathering characteristics to the formation of a
tightly adherent protective oxide coating which seals the surface
against further corrosion. The protective layer or patina is of a
natural dark brown appearance and if chipped or damaged will
actually repair itself to give continuity of protection and
appearance.
COR-TEN is particularly recommended for use where high
structural strength is required and where maintenance is difficult.
The colour of the patina will be determined by the nature of the
atmosphere and the frequency with which the surface is exposed
to the wetting and drying cycle. As the patina blends with many
natural surroundings, increasing use has been made of COR-TEN
for aesthetic reasons in the current environmentally conscious
world.

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Strength
Economic
Benefits
Corrosion is a major factor in many branches of industry. High costs are incurred by the
rebuilding of corrosion damaged structures, but the cost of oxidation prevention by
painting and repainting must also be considered.
Many applications of COR-TEN show that better economy can be achieved in either the
painted or unpainted form where high strength similar to conventional S355 steels can be used
to construct lighter structures utilising well established design practice, but with the advantage
of improved weathering properties.

Paint lasts longer on

COR-TEN
The surface of weathering steel can be painted using
the same methods applied in painting ordinary steels.
As a result of the special alloying of the steel, a coat of
paint can last twice as long as a coating on ordinary
steel. If weathering steel is continuously exposed to
water, it is usually always recommended to be painted.
An advantage of using weathering steel in wet
conditions is that it, in case of local effects on paint
coating, corrosion on the spot progresses more slowly
than common steel.

Typical applications
Steel framed buildings, bridges, tanks, hoppers, chutes,
containers, cable trays, exhaust systems, rail & road
vehicles, chimneys, ducting, transmission towers and a
wide range of structural applications including building
facades and even sculptures.

Self healing
Material
Properties
Heat Treatment

Steel Grades

Steel grades and their approximate

correspondence for weather
resistance.
Stress
COR-TEN
EN 10025-5:2004
relieving
COR-TEN A
S355J0WP
Normalising
COR-TEN B S355J0W and S355J2W

Temperature
C
550 - 600
(target 580)
860 - 940
(target 910

Treatment Time
Manner of cooling
2 minutes / mm thickness, minimum 30 minutes
Slow cooling in the furnace
1 minute / mm thickness, minimum 15 minutes
Free cooling in air atmosphere outside the oven.

The yield strength is guaranteed as ReL for COR-TEN steels and as R for COR-TEN steels and as ReH for weathering steel grades
according to EN 10025-5:2004. A Charpy V impact test is carried out on standard steels equivalent to COR-TEN B.

Chemical Composition
Content % (ladle analysis)
C
Si
Mn

Al

Maximum

Cu

Cr

Ni

Maximum

Maximum

COR-TEN A 0.12 0.25 - 0.75 0.20 - 0.50 0.07 - 0.15 0.030 0.015 - 0.06
0.25 - 0.55 0.50 - 1.25
COR-TEN B 0.19 0.30 - 0.65 0.80 - 1.25 0.035 max. 0.030 0.020 - 0.06 0.02 - 0.10 0.25 - 0.40 0.40 - 0.65

0.65
0.40

Formability values apply to all forming directions

Thickness mm
(2) -3
(3) -4

(4) -5

(5) -6

(6) -7

(7) -8

(8) -10

24
24

30
30

(10) -12 (12) -14 (14) -16 (16) -18 (18) -20

Smallest allowable internal bending radius mm

COR-TEN A
COR-TEN B

6
-

8
-

10
-

Carbon Equivalent CEV

Thickness mm CEV typical
COR-TEN A 0.8 - 10.0
0.35
COR-TEN A 6.0 - 12.0
0.39
COR-TEN B 6.0 - 20.0
0.48
COR-TEN B (20.0) - 40.0
0.50

12
-

21
21

36
36

42
42

48

54

60

Example of corrosion allowance for

untreated COR-TEN steel

Product
Corrosion allowance to be added for Each following
Strip products Type of
atmosphere
one side of the nominal thickness 10 year period
Plate products
for each 10-year period of working mm
Plate products
life. First 10 year period mm
Plate products Rural
0.10
0.05
CEV= C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15
Urban1)
0.20
0.05
Industrial2)
0.20
0.10
Stock Range
1)
With
the
chief
impurity
in
the
air
being
sulphur
dioxide,
SO
2.
HR
RMP
CR
2)
Thicknesses
In addition to SO2. the air also contains chloride. Also for locations in
0.80 - 1.60 1.50 - 10.0 10.0 - 40.0 the immediate vicinity of salt water.
mm

Mechanical properties and Thickness Range

COR-TEN Thickness mm
Strip products
COR-TEN A
COR-TEN B

0.8 - 10.0
-

Yield strength
Rel N/mm2
Plate products Minimum
6.0 - 12.0
345(HR/RMP) 310(CR)
6.0 - 40.0
345

Tensile strength
Rm N/mm2
Minimum
485(HR/RMP) 450(CR)
485

Elongation
Aso %
Minimum
20(HR/RMP) 22(CR)
19

A5 % Minimum
EN10025-5: Yield strength ReH N/mm2 Tensile strength Rm N/mm2 Elongation R80 %
Minimum Thickness mm Minimum Thickness mm Minimum Thickness mm Thickness mm
2004
2 - 16
(16) - 40
2 - (3)
3 - 40
2 (2) - 2.5 (2.5) - (3)
3 - 40
355
355
510 - 680
470 - 630
14 15
16
20
S355J0WP
355
470 - 630
14 15
16
20
S355J0W
S355J2W

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Solutions in Steel

Protection
Advantages of
COR-TEN
ti
bi
hi

in
ng

es

th
ng
re

ti
er
Exhibits more
favourable
properties than
that of mild steel
at elevated
temperatures (up
to 800C).

Painted areas
which are
damaged will
weather to a
protective film,
inhibiting under
paint creep

Its increased
strength over mild
steel can allow a
weight saving of
approximately
30%

co
vin
sa

ds

st

l
we

The chemical
composition gives
better resistance
against acid
accelerated
corrosion
compared to
ordinary carbon
steel

gs

ce

an

ist

s
re

ife

tl

in

pa
The same paint
systems used for
normal carbon
steel can be
applied to
COR-TEN to
render up to twice
the functional
paint life

st

op
pr

t
en

on
vir
en
Weathers to a
natural brown
colour (which
darkens gradually)
and compliments
the surrounding
environment

Up to 12mm thick,
welds with the
same facility as
mild steel
however its
greater strength
must be
considered when
selecting a
welding procedure

Thicker more
durable zinc
coatings are
obtainable
compared to
ordinary carbon
steel when
utilising hot dip
galvanising, giving
possible cost
savings over
stainless steel

io
ct

e
ot
pr
n

in
av

ts

s
co
g
Saves the cost of
initial painting and
the maintenance
costs of repainting

Develops its own

protective film
which slows the
rate of corrosion
in

at

co
g

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Costs less than mild

steel that has been
subsequently coated
by conventional
means

Contact
Please contact Glen Metals and one of
our COR-TEN experts will deal with
your enquiry: Tel: 01236 424 396 Fax: 01236 433 330
E: glenmetals@asdmetalservices.co.uk
www.glenmetals.com
Head Office
ASD metal services - Tel: 0113 254 0711

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