Evolution vs Corten

Evolution vs Corten

Rust™ finishes are a popular subset of our Evolution and Landscape Collections and have all the same characteristics as the parent collection.

The Rust finishes resemble Corten. Below you can read how a Evolution/Rust finish has significant advantages as a protective, stable metal finish. 

* ‘Corten’ is used throughout this document as a generic term commonly used to describe a rust-promoting alloyed steel. Any comparison with trade names is coincidental.

Evolution/Rust

Evolution/Rust can be used on both lightweight aluminium and steel

Using aluminium increases design freedom and reduces static load.

Evolution/Rust is a stable, inert, polyester finish.

Your pavements will be clean.

With Evolution/Rust there is no staining from water run-off and the finish itself can be cleaned with water and a mild detergent.

 

Evolution/Rust uses no VOC’s in production or application

What you see is what you get

Evolution/Rust evokes the natural rusting, corrosion and aging of steel. The finishes come “pre-aged” and stay that way. You can choose dark, medium, light shades, red, brown or black dominant colours.

 

A one-stage finish

No need for sealing coatings to stop corrosion.

Fast turn-around.

For Evolution/Rust application the metal substrate needs no need pre-conditioning.

Evolution/Rust performs well in most environmental conditions.

An additional zinc-based primer would be recommended for C4 conditions. Extensive testing enables Powdertech to offer the same guarantees as architectural powder coating. Guarantees up to 40-years

Professional application.

Evolution/Rust is applied under controlled conditions to achieve a consistency of performance and long-term guarantees.

Corten*

Corten is a steel-based product.

If your fabrication needs lightweight aluminium then Corten cannot be used.

Corten relies on a protective oxide layer which is soluble.

This layer can be washed off or break down to effectively allow the base metal to keep rusting, leading to failure.

Corten will have water run-off which causes staining.

Walls, floors, pavements will become stained and the colour can even penetrate ground water. In order to reduce this as much as possible special accelerators can be added but these chemicals will contain VOCs.

Corten patination or sealant (if used) may use accelerator chemicals which contain VOCs.

Do you know what you will get with Corten?

The colours and shades of Corten develop and change over time and cannot be accurately pre-determined.

Corten can be sealed but seal coats could lead to unseen corrosion.

Seal coats will also add to the cost of Corten and will need to be maintained.

 

The Corten finish does not develop immediately.

The use of Corten is restricted.

It is not recommended for use in areas less than a mile from the coast due to air-borne salt particles which cause production of the rust product akaganéite. This is a rust that doesn’t stay on the surface and by flaking off it impedes the development of the inner protective oxide layer. For the same reason Corten is not recommended where de-icing of roads is carried out. In addition, products to be coated with Corten must be free of areas when moisture or debris may be trapped. If the steel can never fully dry out, the oxides in the Corten product will not form the crystallized protective layer. 

Corten patination accelerator chemicals are applied in un-controlled conditions.

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