Sumitomo Metals Develops Tin-Added High Tensile Steel for Bridges

Sumitomo Metal Industries announced on Friday the firm developed new type high tensile steel which represents high corrosion resistance by added tin. The developed steel shows high corrosion resistance in high salinity environment such as seaside or the areas where anti-freezing agent is diffused. The firm expects for the application as high tensile steel plate for bridges, which could contribute to less repainting maintenance and easier repainting process.

Steel bridges are generally coated by anticorrosive paint. Repainting maintenance is regularly required in high salinity environment since bridge corrosion progresses from paint chipped positions or edges of bridge parts.

In 2002, Sumitomo Metals fined out slight volume tin addition can raise steel’s corrosion resistance largely in high salinity circumstance. The firm confirmed tin added steel represents high corrosion resistance even if derusting was insufficient in repainting process.

Newly developed steel shows same or higher level strength and weldability compared with conventional bridge steels. Sumitomo Metals seeks adoption of this new high corrosion resistant steel to no-paint steel bridges or more contribution to less repainting maintenance and easier repainting process.