Corten steel, also called Cor-Ten steel or 'weather-resistant' steel, is a metal alloy consisting of iron to which copper, phosphorus, silicon and chromium have been added. The strength is comparable to that of other alloyed steels such as stainless steel. Characteristic of Corten steel is its beautifulorange/brownrust color on the one hand and its long lifespan on the other. The lifespan is so long because the first corrosion layer prevents furtherattackby rust.
