Evaluation of product performance

To ensure the durability of a particular pre-finished steel product, Corus use a combination of both laboratory and real-world testing. The advantages of laboratory testing are that new products can be quickly assessed in accelerated conditions, and continuous monitoring of product performance can be undertaken. However, there is no substitute for the rigorous demands of the real-world, and Corus have a long-term test programme which gives the most comprehensive assurance in the industry.

Given the number of different characteristics a coating is expected to exhibit, there are numerous ways of categorising the performance of a pre-finished steel product. The most common way is through the use of accelerated laboratory tests which look to measure the performance against the key criteria of corrosion, effect of sunlight, chemicals and abrasion.

Accelerated physical and chemical tests are also routinely undertaken to ensure manufacturing standards have been met, and to quantify the performance benefit from product modifications, or for new developments. All testing on Colorcoat® products carried out in UKAS accredited laboratories to the relevant national or international standards.

The performance statements and guarantees offered by Corus are the result of extensive laboratory and field testing of various metallic, pre-treatment and paint coatings and over 40 years of developing and manufacturing Colorcoat® products.

For a confident assessment of the performance of Colorcoat products, a natural weathering programme is undertaken. This can include the exposure of test panels at a selection of weathering sites around the world. Exposure sites are chosen to give full coverage of a range of conditions from equatorial and tropical to temperate climates, and rural and urban to coastal environments.