Product Overview
Corten steel plate, correctly called weathering steel plate, is a low-alloy structural steel that forms a dense, tightly adherent oxide layer known as a patina when exposed to alternating wet and dry conditions. COR-TEN is a registered trademark of United States Steel Corporation; weathering steel is the generic term, and Jingye supplies equivalent grades.
Jingye produces Q355NH and Q460NH to GB/T 4171, S355J0W, S355J2W and S355K2W to EN 10025-5, A588 Gr.A and Gr.B to ASTM, and SMA400 and SMA490 to JIS G3114, in thicknesses from 8 mm to 60 mm.
Grades and Standards
| Grade | Standard | Notes |
| Q355NH (B/C/D/E quality) | GB/T 4171 | Chinese weathering structural steel |
| Q460NH | GB/T 4171 | Higher strength weathering grade |
| S355J0W / S355J2W / S355K2W | EN 10025-5 | European weathering grades |
| A588 Gr.A / Gr.B | ASTM A588/A588M | US weathering grades, Corten type |
| SMA400 / SMA490 | JIS G3114 | Japanese weathering grades |
Available Dimensions
Thickness 8 to 60 mm; width 1600 to 3600 mm; length up to 18000 mm. Thickness above 60 mm is subject to technical review.
Key Features
- Atmospheric corrosion resistance approximately four to eight times that of ordinary carbon steel in a suitable environment.
- Copper, chromium and nickel additions promote the formation of a stable protective patina.
- Self-protecting surface removes the need for painting and reduces life-cycle cost.
- Distinctive brown patina valued in architectural and landscape design.
- Weldable with conventional processes without special filler metals.
Service Conditions
Weathering steel performs best in freely draining conditions with alternating wet and dry cycles. In sheltered positions where rain cannot wash the surface, or within roughly 2 km of a coastline, the patina may not stabilise and a protective coating should be specified. Continuous service above 480 degrees Celsius is not recommended.
Applications
- Bridges, container structures and railway wagons.
- Architectural facades, sculptures and landscape structures.
- Transmission towers, culverts and weathering fencing.
Delivery, Testing and Quality
Plates are rolled on 3000 mm and 3800 mm mills with a combined annual capacity of 6 million tonnes. Delivery conditions include as-rolled (AR), controlled rolling (CR), normalising (N), normalising rolling (NR), thermo-mechanical controlled processing (TMCP) and quenching and tempering (Q+T). Ultrasonic testing is available to GB/T 2970 (classes I to III), EN 10160 and ASTM A578, and through-thickness properties to Z15, Z25 and Z35 can be specified to GB/T 5313 and EN 10164. Hull structural plates are approved by CCS, ABS, BV, DNV, LR, NK, KR, RINA and RS.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Corten the same as weathering steel?
Corten is the best-known brand name and weathering steel is the generic term. Jingye supplies equivalent weathering grades such as S355J2W, A588 Gr.B and Q355NH.
- Does weathering steel need to be painted?
Generally no, provided the surface drains freely and is alternately wet and dry. In marine, chloride-rich or sheltered conditions a coating is recommended.
- How much better is weathering steel than ordinary steel?
Published data for COR-TEN type steel indicate roughly four to eight times the atmospheric corrosion resistance of ordinary carbon steel, with the benefit depending strongly on grade and environment.
