ArcelorMittal Ostrava is going to produce Arcorox® weathering steel – the steel grade allocated to the ArcelorMittal group. The new grade has a higher content of copper enabling to form a patina layer, which protects the steel against atmospheric corrosion. The Ostrava mills will be the only producer of weathering steel sections in the Czech Republic.

"The greatest advantage of weathering steel is saving up the costs of anti-corrosion protection. Steel can last up to 80 years maintenance-free, without having to protect its surface by coating or painting," said Zdeněk Vašek from the company’s Research and Development. Apart from savings, the introduction of Arcorox® steel brings other benefits such as shortening the construction period and limiting negative impacts on the environment resulting from application of paint or metal coating. All tests of the new steel grade were successful. The company is now waiting to obtain the necessary certification. Arcorox® steel sections are going to be produced by the Heavy and Medium Section Mills. The new product is going to be used in steel structures such as bridges, open industrial halls or various types of pylons.

ArcelorMittal Ostrava and Faculty of Civil Engineering of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava cooperate in testing the performance of products made of the new steel grade in practice. Three models of high voltage electricity pylons made of Arcorox® weathering steel have been constructed at the mill’s premises. The development of a protective patina layer as well as the performance of various types of bolted connections are going to be examined during the experiment. "The main goal of our experiment is to monitor the development of a patina layer during the structure’s life and to determine the most convenient type of bolted connection for high voltage electrical pylons," explained Vít Křivý from the Faculty of Civil Engineering VSB-TUO.