
XL-08 Corten Steel Accelerator
XL-08 accelerates the natural weathering of Corten / Weathering Steel to save time on your project.


About XL-08
Fast acting!
Our ground-breaking XL-08 rust accelerator will reduce waiting time to hours rather than weeks or months. Specifically designed for Corten / Weathering steel but is also highly effective on mild steel or any other carbon steel. The compound can be sprayed onto the surface and left as long as needed to create the desired patina. Once accelerated to the desired patina, the Corten / Weathering Steel can be sealed with CT-7571-W. Always ensure to neutralise XL-08 with ERW-BD before applying the CT-7571-W coating.

Wide application range
Suitable for all iron based metals and can be brushed or sprayed. Excellent Rat rod style car painting product.

Lightning
speed
Achieve the desired finish and results in days rather than weeks. Can be stopped at any oxidation level required and results viewed in as little as 1 hour.

Finish
shaping
Creates a unique patina on substrate surfaces after application. No flaking of the surface. Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications, vehicle exterior modifications and other scenarios.

5 year guarantee
Long lasting and hard wearing proven in real time to exceed its guarantee period of 5 years. Guaranteed not to crack, peel or fade. No decomposition if the conditions for storage and handling are satisfied.

Better coverage rate
Covers 20 to 25 ㎡ per litre. Compatible with both the CT-7571-W and the ERW-BD
The various finishes are achieved in 3 ways:
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Preparation of the metal. Raw, sand blasted, scrubbed or grinded.
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Length of time XL-08 is left to dwell. Usually, 1 day to 10 days.
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Coating depth.
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The lighter finishes are achieved when the surface has been sand or shot blasted.
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The more textured finishes are achieved when the surface has been roughed or grinded.
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The longer the XL-08 is reactivated with a saline solution the deeper the oxidisation.
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Or the longer it is left to naturally rust up to 6 months.
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Thicker coating or additional coats will increase the gloss level if desired.

Physical Effects

Step 1
Corten / Weathering Steel sheet in original condition
Step 4
After XL-08
Step 2
XL-08 Applied
Step 5
CT-7571-W coating applied (Wet)
Step 3
XL-08 Immediate reaction 1 minute
Step 6
CT-7571-W coating dried and sealed
F.A.Q.
How do you stop Corten from rusting?
You can use CT-7571-W Sealer to stop the steel from rusting after you have achieved satisfactory rust with XL-08. Both products are derived from BROMOCO Corten Steel Solutions and are well adapted. CT-7571-W Sealer also protects Corten steel from contaminants, physical abrasion, or chemical attack, increasing service life.
How long does it usually take for Corten steel to rust?
Typically, Corten steel undergoes patination or rusting after approximately six months of being exposed to the atmosphere. The majority of weathering steel varieties require alternating wet and dry weather cycles to foster oxidation and develop the desired characteristics.
Can you graffiti or spray paint a Corten?
We recommend doing this after using CT-7571-W to seal Corten steel. Graffiti and spray paint pigments will chemically attack the unprotected Corten surface, causing the area to be out of sync with the unpainted area in terms of rust rate, robustness and colour. This will be irreversible, and even if the pigment is removed, a complete grind may be required to achieve the same visual level.
How do you intentionally rust steel?
Salt solutions containing ions accelerate the rusting process by making it easy for electrons to flow from iron to oxygen. The metal will rust only after the metal atoms lose electrons and produce ions. But you still need to keep spraying and waiting for weeks. XL-08 forms rust on metal as fast as you can see it, which greatly reduces the difficulty of your project and your waiting time.
Does Corten steel need maintenance?
Corten steel requires frequent maintenance before a patina is created. Any cuts, stains or graffiti will cause the patina to develop unevenly and form unsightly patches. Using the XL-08 Corten Accelerator you can quickly get through this vulnerable point, reaching a satisfactory patina in a matter of hours or days and immediately protecting it with a sealer. After this, the Corten will require far less maintenance.
How do you accelerate rusting of Corten steel?
If you want your Corten steel to rust faster, there are a few things you can do. One is to keep the steel consistently moist, spraying it with water for a few weeks at a time when it is almost dry. Or, you can create a highly oxygenated space and place the Corten steel that needs to rust in it. If you don't want to go to all that trouble, you can also just use BROMOCO's XL-08 Corten Steel Accelerator to speed up rusting. It usually takes only a few minutes to a few hours to rust brand new Corten steel to your satisfaction using that. After that, we can stop the rusting of Corten steel and protect it permanently with our other products.
Can you spray clear coat over rust?
Yes. But please note that you should choose a mild clear coat to apply to the Corten surface to avoid unwanted weathering caused by the coating reacting with the Corten. We recommend CT-7571-W Corten Sealer and Protector, a water-based, mild protective coating designed specifically for Corten to stop Corten from continuing to weather and protect it from stains, physical abrasion and chemical corrosion. Significantly increases service life. In addition, the CT-7571-W is available in both glossy and satin finishes, making it easy to achieve either a warmer look with more depth or a restored original look.
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Typical Data
Column | Info |
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Form | Liquid |
Colour | Colourless |
Odour | Pungent |
Solubility in water | Soluble |
Viscosity at 20℃ | 1.17 mPas |
Boiling point/ range ℃ | 108 (35%) @760mmHg |
Melting point/ range ℃ | -33 |
Part. coeff. n-octanol/ water | log Pow: -1.57 |
Vapour pressure at 30℃ | 1 hPa |
Relative density | 1.1 - 1.2 |
Relativity | Stable under recommended transport or storage conditions. |
pH | Concentrated: 2.0 |
Chemical stability | Stable under normal conditions. |
Persistence and degradability | Rapidly biodegradable |
PBT identification | This product is not identified as a PBT/PvB substance. |

Project Highlights
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