Corten ígwè bụ klas nke alloy ígwè, mgbe ọtụtụ afọ nke n'èzí ikpughe nwere ike na-etolite a dịtụ ok nchara oyi akwa n'elu, n'ihi ya, ọ dịghị mkpa ka a na-ese nchebe. Ọtụtụ nchara dị ala na-emekarị nchara ma ọ bụ na-emebi emebi ka oge na-aga ma ọ bụrụ na mmiri dị na mmiri ma ọ bụ ikuku. Igwe nchara a na-aghọ porous wee daa n'elu igwe. Ọ na-eguzogide corrosion nke ígwè ndị ọzọ dị ala alloy nwetara.
Corten ígwè na-eguzogide mmetụta ọjọọ nke mmiri ozuzo, snow, ice, foogu, na ọnọdụ ihu igwe ndị ọzọ site n'ịme mkpuchi na-acha aja aja na-acha odo odo na elu igwe. Corten steel bụ ụdị nchara nwere phosphorus, ọla kọpa, chromium, nickel na molybdenum agbakwunyere. Alloys ndị a na-eme ka nguzogide corrosion nke ikuku na-eme ka nchara ihu igwe dị mma site n'ịme oyi akwa mkpuchi n'elu ya.
Nchara Corten anaghị eguzogide nchara kpamkpam, mana ozugbo ọ mere agadi, ọ nwere nguzogide corrosion dị elu (ihe dị ka okpukpu abụọ nke carbon steel). N'ọtụtụ ngwa nke igwe na-ekpuchi ihu igwe, oyi akwa nchara na-echebe na-etolite n'ụzọ nkịtị mgbe afọ 6-10 nke ikpughe eke na mmewere (dabere n'ogo nke ikpughe). Ọnụ ọgụgụ corrosion adịghị ala ruo mgbe egosipụtara ike nchebe nke oyi akwa nchara, na nchara mbụ nke mbụ ga-emerụ elu ya na ebe ndị ọzọ dị nso.