Corten steel, also known as weathering steel, is a high tensile steel that forms a protective layer of rust or patina when exposed to the elements. This patina shields the steel from further corrosion, giving it a characteristic reddish-brown color.

To form this protective patina, corten steel needs repeated cycles of wetting and drying. If buried or otherwise prevented from experiencing these cycles, corten steel will not develop the patina and will rust at a similar rate to mild steel.

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To extend the lifespan of corten steel, ensure all retaining walls have adequate drainage to prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup. Poorly drained retaining walls with saturated soils will shorten the lifespan of unprotected corten steel.

For this reason, it is recommended sealing the insides of planters and the backs of retaining walls made of corten steel with a bitumen sealer.

By following these simple care and maintenance tips, you can ensure that your corten steel structures will last for many years to come.

Weathering steel alloys, are often refereed to as Corten,

Corten steel, was a steel alloy that was first developed in 1933 by the US steel Corporation.

Weathering steel ASTM A606-4 often sold as Corten, develops a protective oxide film, when exposed to repeated wet-dry cycles.

Unlike raw steel, Cor-Ten steel is corrosion resistant due to its alloy composition, it does not show bubbling, flaking or peeling which normally occurs with raw steel

This oxide bonds with the base metal and continues to corrode over time at a much much slower rate.

The inherent nature of the rusting process, is that variations in colour, hue and texture should be expected, these variations are not considered flaws or defects Cor-Ten steel is sold un-weathered (grey/blue steel) and will produce a rust run-off which will may stain stone, concrete, and decking surfaces if not allowed to weather first. To limit staining to surrounding surfaces, place your planter in grass or soil during the initial weathering period.

Q355NH Weathering steel

Chemical composition(%)

C:≤0.16 Si≤0.5 Mn:0.5-1.5 P≤0.03 Cr:0.4-0.8 Cu:0.25-0.55

Mechanical property

Yield strength/Mpa:≥355 Tensile strength/Mpa:490-630 Elongation/%≥22

Stainless Steel TEK screws should be used to fasten the corten weathering steel. Do not use zinc coated screws as this will result in bimetallic corrosion which occurs when dissimilar metals are in contact

The zinc anode will quickly corrode when an electrolyte (water) is present

Corten is not permitted to fix directly to galvanised steel, electrolytic isolation pads must be fitted to prevent any direct contact

Zinc flashings should not be in direct contact with corten, to avoid dissimilar metallic corrosion due to the large surface area of zinc in contact with the corten . A solution can be to install a non conductive permanent insulation layer between the two dissimilar metals