Cor-Ten Steel as a Unique Material

Sheres of use

The Cor-ten weathering steel was developed in the 1930s by U.S. Steel. The excellent corrosion resistance and high durability of Cor-ten steel made it popular in a number of spheres: shipbuilding, bridge construction, manufacturing marine containers, pipes, cisterns etc.

U.S. Steel Tower, Cor-ten steel

Due to its unique qualities and ease of processing, Cor-ten is actively used both as a structural material in construction and in landscape design for creation of decorative compositions.

Cor-ten steel can be supplied as prefabricated façade products (rainscreen panels, lamellas, design profiles and sandwich panels), as well as in the form of rolls and flat sheets. Cor-ten steel façades are successfully used in construction of housing as well as commercial buildings.

Cottage, Slovakia

Riigi Kinnisvara Office Building, Estonia, Cor-ten steel

Akropolis Shopping and Entertainment Centre, Lithuania

Pecuriarities of Cor-ten

Cor-ten is an alloy steel, especially resistant to atmospheric influence. At the same time, Cor-ten is a natural and sustainable material.

High durability of Cor-ten steel is ensured by the oxide layer (patina) formed on the surface and stopping the corrosion process. In normal weather conditions the unwashable oxide film is created within 18-36 months in case of obligatory multiple cycles of surface wetting and drying. In this case, each subsequent wetting cycle increases the useful life of the steel.

Medical centre, Estonia, Cor-ten steel

Originally Cor-ten steel sheets have glossy silver-like surface, which changes in the course of time from velvet bronze shades to noble saturated brown.

Cor-ten colour change in the course of time, Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower, Japan

Cor-ten can be used in structures without additional surface processing, and also does not require maintenance throughout its whole useful life.

Cor-ten processing

Cor-ten welding in factory conditions is possible with all known ways. In this case, it is recommended to use welding methods involving low hydrogen content. Cor-ten is bendable and can be cold-formed, thermally and mechanically cut similar to ordinary S355 structural steel.

Garden-house, Australia, perforated Cor-ten sheets

Palazzo di Vigonovo, Italy

Usage in architecture

Though this material has been used in architecture for over 50 years, it remains still of great relevance and finds more and more new options of usage in façade compositions and architectural solutions all over the world. In the latest years, talented architects are using Cor-ten steel for creation of not only expressive building façades, but also lawns, sculptures, fascias, landscaping elements etc.

In Ukraine, Cor-ten steel by Ruukki SSAB has been used in a number of projects, including TAM-TAM Shopping and Entertainment Centre in Lutsk, Verholy Hotel in Poltava Region, the Cube sculpture in Kyiv etc.

Interior usage of Cor-ten steel

Today Cor-ten steel is more and more widely used in interiors of residential and commercial buildings. Combining velvet-like surface and expressive colour, Cor-ten steel products always look slender and successfully complement any interior.

Cor-ten can be used for producing staircases, furniture, fireplaces, luminaires, and other interior objects. Cor-ten is also used for wall, ceiling, floor and other finishes.

The possibilities of using Cor-ten are virtually unlimited and in the nearest future modern architects will definitely find other ways to use such steel to create new interesting solutions.

Examples of using Cor-Ten in architecture

Pärnu Bay Golf Club, Estonia

Cinema Museum, Estonia

Egtved Gas Compressor Station, Denmark

Cor-ten steel signboard