3001 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering & Sciences Publication Retrieval Number: B8113129219/2019©BEIESP DOI: 10.35940/ijitee.B8113.129219 Journal Website: www.ijitee.org Age Hardening in COR-Ten Steel

Abstract

Weathering steels developed under the name COR-TEN steels, established themselves as a promising material to meet the demand for atmospheric corrosion resistance and eliminate the need for painting. COR-TEN steel is resistant to corrosive effect of weather such as rain, snow, ice, fog, etc. A coating of dark brown oxidation is developed over the metal surface, when it comes in contact with the environment thereby inhibiting the deeper penetration and negating the need for painting and reducing the rust-prevention cost over the years. Thus the steel is allowed to rust which forms a protective layer and slows down the rate of corrosion. The present study emphasizes the age hardening behavior of COR-TEN steel. The steel was subjected to solution treatment at 1000°C following accelerated cooling with water, oil and air. The oil quenched steel was then subjected to aging treatment at 400°C and 500°C for various times ranging from 5 min to 1500 min followed by water quenching. In order to ascertain the response to aging hardness measurement were conducted by employing a load of 20 Kgf. Metallographic examinations were also conducted to study the resulting structural transformations in various stages of investigations.