Weathering Steel or Corten Steel Sculpture Designs
Weathering steel or more popularly known as Corten steel is a group of alloys which have been created to reduce, if not eliminate, the need for painting jobs and will form a rust-like appearance when exposed to different weather conditions for several years in time. It is termed “weathering steel” because by their chemical compositions, this type of steel presents an added resistance to atmospheric corrosion unlike their unalloyed steel counterparts. In addition to, this kind of steel forms a protective layer over its surface under the influence of any weather circumstance.
One of the many carbon steels out there is corten steel which is known for its high weathering strength. This is developed by the American USX Corporation and is also called as XLERPLATE by people in Australia and New Zealand.
Corten steel is commonly used in outdoor sculpture designs such as the large Chicago Picasso; and as exterior facades due to its rustic appearance. Other examples of famous corten steel sculpture designs include Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North which is located at Gateshead, UK; and the Humanities and Arts Complex at the Leeds Metropolitan University in UK.
Amongst the many existing steels widely used for sculpture designs, corten steel is of particular interest to artists and architects who work with constructed steel fabrications which aims to create a sculpture that when exposed to weather for several years will exhibit a naturally weathered and rusty patina finish. Corten steel can also be available in either a grade A or B material – alloyed usually with carbon, silicon, phosphorus, manganese, chromium, sulfur, copper and nickel, vanadium, and aluminum (for grade B).
What makes Corten Steel a favorite in Sculpture Designs?
Within the carbon steel group, corten steel and others react with oxygen to create a rust oxide on untreated surfaces. While in some normal carbon steels, the oxidation process can eventually result to an oxide conversion of the steel’s entirety further resulting in a structural collapse, it is a different case in corten steel sculpture designs. The additional alloying elements, particularly the copper and chromium, that are being added to produce corten steel encourage a very dense oxide layer to take place on the exposed surfaces. This remarkable density inhibits any deeper corrosive penetration into the metal’s fabric efficiently and effectively. Being dependent on the ambient atmospheric condition the corten steel sculpture design is exposed to, a rich rust oxide coating naturally develops while not compromising the longevity of the artwork itself. This rusting takes about 18 to 36 months to occur; and is rather aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.
The Downsides of Corten Steel Sculpture Designs
Inasmuch as the benefits of corten steel in sculpture designs, using such in construction also presents a variety of challenges. Any builder must ensure that the welding points weather at the same rate as the rest of the materials and may need specialized welding techniques and tools. It should also be taken note of that corten steel is not rustproof by itself. If water is permitted to seep and accumulate in open holes, those areas will be more prone to higher corrosion rates.
Additionally, corten steel is delicate to salt-laden air environments because in such places, there is a better probability that the protective layer may become unstable and continue to corrode. One concrete example of this is Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium which was built in 1975; and the former Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia which was built in 1972 and has never stopped rusting which eventually led to large holes appearing on the structure.
To address this problem, there have been newer formulations of corten steel in sculpture designs.
There is a growing popularity of corten steel is due to its durability and natural look. It can be used in a wide variety of decorative screens and sculpture design.
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