The Benefits of Cold-Rolled Steel | OneMonroe

29 Apr.,2024

 

The Benefits of Cold-Rolled Steel | OneMonroe

Not all steelmaking processes involve heating steel to or above its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling, for example, is performed at room temperature. Not surprisingly, it requires greater pressure to roll and form steel at room temperature. Because cold-rolled steel is manipulated well below the recrystallization temperature of steel, however, it offers several benefits. Below are some of the top benefits of cold-rolled steel.

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Increased Strength

Cold-rolled steel is significantly stronger than hot-rolled steel. As the rollers compress the steel at room temperature, the steel becomes stronger due to strain hardening. Just how strong is cold-rolled steel exactly? Although there are exceptions, cold-rolled steel is typically about 20% stronger than its hot-rolled counterpart.

Improved Surface Finish

In addition to being stronger, cold-rolled steel has an improved surface finish. It’s smoother and has fewer surface imperfections than hot-rolled steel. Not only does this improve the aesthetics of cold-rolled steel; it makes cold-rolled steel a more suitable material for certain applications, such as the construction of bridges.

Tighter Tolerances

Cold rolling allows for tighter tolerances than hot rolling. What does this mean exactly? In metalworking, the term “tolerance” refers to the overall thickness of metal. Cold-rolled steel is typically thinner — without sacrificing strength — than hot-rolled steel. As a result, cold rolling offers tighter tolerances than aren’t found in other steelmaking processes.

Multiple Options

There are several different options available for creating cold-rolled steel, some of which include full-hard, half-hard, quarter-hard and skin-rolled. Of all those options, full-hard cold rolling is often preferred because it offers the tightest tolerances. When performed correctly, full-hard cold rolling can reduce the thickness of steel by up to 50%. Other cold rolling processes can also reduce the thickness of steel, but they aren’t as effective as full-hard cold rolling.

What Are the Disadvantages of Cold-Rolled Steel?

As you can see, cold-rolled steel offers several benefits, some of which include increased strength, improved surface finish, tighter tolerances and multiple options. But there are still a few disadvantages associated with cold-rolled steel. When compared to hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel typically costs more money to produce. For many metalworking companies, this makes hot rolling a more attractive process.

Another disadvantage of cold-rolled steel is its low malleability. It’s easier to deform and manipulate the shape of hot-rolled steel because the process requires heating steel to or above its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling, however, involves compressing steel under rollers at room temperature, thereby making it more difficult to shape.

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Hot Rolled Steel vs. Cold Rolled Steel

An Overview of Hot Rolled Steel

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Hot rolled steel is steel that has undergone the rolling process at a temperature above its recrystallization temperature (usually 1700° F or greater). Compared to unprocessed steel, the processed material exhibits greater formability and workability, making it easier to work with in subsequent processing operations.

The hot rolling process starts with a large, rectangular slab of metal referred to as a billet. First, the billet is heated and compressed into a large roll. While still hot, it passes through a series of rotating rollers to achieve the desired dimensions. In sheet metal production operations, the rolled steel is then wound into coiled rolls and left to cool. In production operations involving other forms, the processed material is cut into the specified units and packaged.

Benefits of Hot Rolled Steel

Hot rolled steel offers several manufacturing advantages, such as:

  • Lower cost: Hot rolled steel tends to be less expensive than cold rolled steel since it involves less processing.
  • Better workability: As the hot rolling process occurs at elevated temperatures, the processed material is easy to form and shape.
  • Little to no internal stress: The hot rolling process involves cooling the steel gradually, which allows the material to essentially normalize its structure and become free of internal stresses.

Applications of Hot Rolled Steel

Since hot rolled steel shrinks slightly during the cooling stage, there is a lesser degree of control over its final shape. For this reason, it is typically used in applications that do not require extremely tight tolerances, such as:

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  • Agricultural equipment
  • Automobile parts (e.g., frames and wheel rims)
  • Construction materials (e.g., I-beams)
  • Railroad equipment (e.g., tracks and railcar components)