What is COR-TEN® (aka Corten, CorTen)?

COR-TEN® is a special steel alloy that has a weathered, rusty-orange look. The material, also referred to as corten or CorTen, was developed to eliminate the need for painting the metal. Cor-Ten forms a stable rust-like appearance after being exposed several years to weather.

U.S. Steel owns the trademark on Cor-Ten. This steel alloy is encouraged to rust – and form a dark brown oxidation. This rust forms a protective coating over the surface that slows further corrosion.

Word De-Construction

Word of the Week: COR-TEN®

PRONUNCIATION: \ ˈkȯr ˈten

PART OF SPEECH: Noun

SENTENCE: // The architect incorporated COR-TEN® weathered steel into the building design to achieve a rusty-orange antique appearance.

SYNONYMS AND RELATED WORDS: corten, CorTen

COR-TEN on the John Deere World Headquarters - Moline, Illinois

(Image Source: John Deere Web

Corten (sometimes called “bleeding steel”) has now become a more generalized term and can include products manufactured by other mills but have slightly varied alloy ratios. A critical aspect when installing corten is that it must be well-drained. When moisture is retained in joints or laps, it can lead to early corrosion.

The U.S. Steel Corporation began manufacturing this corrosion-controlled steel in 1933, and it was predominately used for traffic poles, structural beams, columns, and railroad cars. Today, you can find this material used on corrugated roofs and standing seam profiles. The word corten refers to the two distinguishing properties of the steel: (COR) corrosion resistance and (TEN) tensile strength. Learn more about our metal roof clamp compatibility with Cor-Ten steel!

How the Corten Patina Develops:

Weathering steels are alloyed with a small amount of copper, chrome, and nickel. These metals develop dense and tight oxides that act as a sort of “seal” across the surface of the steel.

COR-TEN on the Broadcasting Tower at Leeds Beckett University

(Image Source: Leeds Beckett University Website)

This layer protects the steel from corrosion. During this oxide development process, weathering steels leach red-colored oxides – to form the rusty patina. But this leaching can stain adjoining sidewalks, walls, etc.

Corten Concerns:

Weld-points may weather at different rates than other materials.
Although the steel is weathered, it doesn’t mean it is corrosion-proof.
- Therefore, proper drainage is critical in finished roofing. Joints that are prone to capillary entrapment are a “no-no”.
Weathered steel may not stop rusting even after the protective coating is achieved – especially when used in humid or acidic climates.

Omni Coliseum – Atlanta, 1972 – holes formed in the structure due to the humid Atlanta climate – which began to weaken the structure. It was demolished after 25 years.

Aloha Stadium – Hawaii, 1975 – never stopped rusting due to the salt-laden ocean chlorides of the island.

The above examples illustrate the importance of proper drainage design so excess water does not collect and then fall onto the concrete or adjoining structures – staining them.

Click here for more explanation regarding clamp compatibility with Cor-Ten steel.