What is weathering steel


As we said, weathering steel is also called weathering steel. In a nutshell, you'll find that this steel is a trademark of the United States Steel Corporation. The problem with building materials is that over time you often find a layer of rust forming on them. No matter how much you try to stop it, it will creep in. That's why US Steel came up with the idea. By providing eye-catching materials, they will be able to prevent that layer of dust from forming. Not only that, it also prevents the steel from deteriorating further. So you don't have to worry about drawing it from time to time.


So while it all sounds too good to be true, you also have to put things in perspective realistically. This is because while rust will continue to thicken, steel will thicken without intending to become stable. After reaching the breaking point, the steel perforates and then needs to be replaced. That is why it is important to bear in mind the differences in environmental conditions when choosing this type of steel.

How does weathering steel work?

All or most low-alloy steels rust due to the presence of air and moisture. The rate at which this happens will depend on its exposure to water, oxygen and atmospheric pollutants that hit the surface. As the process progresses, the rust layer forms a barrier that prevents pollutants, water and oxygen from flowing through. This will also help to delay the rusting process to some extent. Over time, this rusty layer also separates from the metal. As you will be able to understand, this is a repeating cycle.

In the case of Weathering steel, however, things work slightly differently. While the rusting process will certainly start in the same way, the progression will be slightly different. This is because the alloying elements in the steel create a stable layer of rust that sticks to the base metal. This will help form a protective barrier to prevent further entry of moisture, oxygen and contaminants. As a result, you will be able to experience much lower corrosion rates than are typically found with ordinary structural steels.

Metallurgy of weathering steel (weathering steel)


The basic difference you can find between ordinary structural and weathering steels is the inclusion of copper, chromium and nickel alloy elements. This will help to enhance the corrosion resistance of weathering steel. On the other hand, when ordinary structural steels and material standards of weathering steel are compared, all other elements appear to be more or less similar.


ASTM A 242


Also known as the original A 242 alloy, it has A yield strength of 50 kSi (340 Mpa) and ultimate tensile strength of 70 kSi (480 Mpa) for light and medium rolled shapes. As for plates, they can be three-quarters of an inch thick. In addition, it has ultimate strength of 67 ksi, yield strength of 46 ksi, and plate thickness ranges from 0.75 to 1 in.

The ultimate strength and yield strength of the thickest rolled plates and profiles are 63 kSi and 42 kSi.


As for its category, you can find it in Types 1 and 2. As the name implies, they will all be used for different applications, depending on their thickness. In the case of type 1, it is most commonly used in construction, housing structures, and trucks. As for Type 2 steel, also known as Corten B, it is mainly used for passenger cranes or ships, as well as urban furniture.

ASTM A 588


With ultimate tensile strength of 70 ksi and yield strength of at least 50 ksi, you will find this weathering steel in all rolled shapes. In terms of plate thickness, this would be 4 inches thick. Ultimate tensile strength is at least 67 kSI for plates of at least 4 to 5 inches. Ultimate tensile strength of at least 63 ksi and yield strength of at least 42 ksi for 5 - to 8-inch plates.