DO YOU KNOW
CORTEN
COR-rosion resistance (high corrosion resistance)
TEN-sile strength (high mechanical resistance)
Corten steel is a versatile material that allows you to combine
efficiency and aesthetics.
Thanks to its structural properties it
appears to be the right answer to the needs of modern construction.
Corten has been defined as a "living" metal, because it is capable
of self-healing.
Resistant to atmospheric corrosion and mechanical
stress, it occupies a primary role among steels with high mechanical
resistance.
Its peculiarity is the protective film that is created on its surface and gives it the characteristic "rust" color: this layer gives the product a high resistance to corrosion.
In fact, the rust that is created will not ruin the material, but create a
protective layer which will acquire its typical brown color over
time. The ability to self-regenerate is one of the most important
characteristics of this material. Rusting for corten steel is part
of a controlled and calculated oxidation process.
In fact, if this
particular rust that covers it is scratched, the oxidized Corten
steel alloy automatically generates a new protective film.
Here is the grandeur of this material: Corten regenerates and preserves itself.
Oxidation is a natural process of the sheet metal which,
thanks to the percentage of copper it contains within it, allows it
to obtain the typical "rust" color over time.
The process takes 12
to 18 months. By not chemically treating our products, we preserve
the qualities of the raw material, ensuring that aggressive agents
do not affect the peculiarities of the material by modifying the
oxidation times.
We advise our customers not to apply products found
on the market with the function of speeding up or blocking
oxidation, as they deteriorate the material, creating the opposite
effect if applied incorrectly.
Even if they are few, Corten can have
some disadvantages. For example, part of the film, washed away by
atmospheric agents, can fall to the ground and stain materials in
direct contact with the corten. For this very reason, we do not
recommend placing Corten products on delicate or light-coloured
floors.