From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Composition, properties, and suitability of Corten steel.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\4\ scan0161 | |
| Date | 7th March 1938 | |
| c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} O.{Mr Oldham} Hignett [struck through] 1110 Cgh{W Clough}/EM.3/MM.7.3.38. CORTEN STEEL. I have obtained such particulars as are available/county in regard to the above material. Corten Steel is a low carbon material of the following composition containing a certain amount of Chromium and Copper. Carbon .09% Silicon .77% Sulphur .029% Phosphorus .14% Manganese .18% Chromium 1.00% Copper .37% It is therefore, a development of the 28/32 ton Tensile free cutting steels, and can only be compared with this class of material. The actual tensile strength of Corten is 34/38 tons per square inch, and the impact value 50 foot lbs. In common with most copper bearing steels it is rather more resistant to corrosion than plain mild steels, but in this respect it is very much inferior to ordinary 12% Chromium Stainless Steel, and not in anyway comparable to the austenitic steels of the Staybrite type from the point of view of resistance to corrosion. It would not appear that this material is of any value to us from the point of view of chassis production, being more suitable for structural purposes, but if it is considered that we have any application for this class of material we would say that the Appleby - Frodingham Steel Co. Ltd, market a steel known as "Kuplus" also containing copper which is in every way equal to the "Corten" steel made in U.S.A. Cgh{W Clough}/EM [Signature] | ||