When approaching your project, it is crucial to know the type of steel that is best suited for your needs. Different types of steel manufacturing can produce material that performs better for the specific applications. The hot and cold rolled steel manufacturing methods specifically have a great effect on the overall performance of the steel.
Prior knowledge of distinctions between the two methods can help your company save on time, raw material cost, and additional processing. This article aims to explain the differences between hot and cold rolled steel and discuss the advantages (and limitations) of each.
NOTE: Hot-rolling and cold-rolling should not be mistaken for different grades of steel. Steels of different grades can be produced as hot-rolled or cold-rolled.
Hot-rolling refers to a mill process in which you roll the steel at a temperature above its recrystallization temperature; a heat that typically exceeds ° F.
When steel is heated past its recrystallization point, it becomes more malleable and can be properly formed and shaped. It also allows for the ability to produce larger quantities of steel. The steel is then cooled at room temperature, which &#;normalizes&#; it, eliminating the worry for stresses in the material arising when quenching or work-hardening.
When the steel cools off, it will shrink non-uniformly, which gives slightly less control on the overall size and shape of a finished hot-rolled product.
Hot-rolled steel typically has a scaly surface finish. For situations in which the appearance of the material is a concern, the scales can be removed by several techniques: pickling, grinding, or sand-blasting.
These properties make hot-rolled steel most suitable for structural components and other applications where incredibly precise shapes and tolerances are of less importance, such as:
As you might suspect, the manufacturing process behind cold-rolled steel is a bit different. Despite the name, this process refers to steel that is pressed with the pressure of a roller at room temperature.
Compared to hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel has a nearly 20% increase in strength through the use of strain hardening. It&#;s through a series of breakdown, semi-finishing, sizing, semi-roughing, roughing, and finishing that cold-rolled steel shapes can be created.
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Cold-rolling steel allows for the creation of very precise shapes. Since the process is performed at room temperature, the steel will not shrink as it cools, as it does in the hot-rolled process.
The exterior finish of cold-rolled steel is very desirable when aesthetics and visual appeal are a priority in your project.
However, the applications of cold-rolled steel are somewhat limited to a couple of shapes &#; square, round, flat, and variations thereof.
Typical uses for cold-rolled steel:
If you require large structural components, you will most likely need the hot-rolled steel process to create the parts. For smaller parts that require more precise and durable qualities, then the cold-rolled steel process is the way to go. If you have questions about which mill process you need for your project, feel free to call National Material at 847-806- and ask for one of our skilled customer representatives.
Hot rolling, the process used to make hot rolled steel, involves rolling steel at high temperatures (typically over ˚F). These high temperatures are above steel&#;s recrystallization temperature, allowing the steel to be easily shaped, formed, and made in larger sizes. As it cools, hot rolled steel tends to shrink non-uniformly, giving less control on the size and shape of the finished product when compared to cold rolled steel.
Hot rolled steel tends to have a scaly finish which can be removed by pickling, grinding, or sand-blasting. This steel is essentially normalized, meaning free from internal stresses that can arise from quenching or work-hardening processes, because it is allowed to cool at room temperature. Other properties may include:
Hot rolled steel tends to be cheaper than cold rolled steel because it is manufactured without any delays in the process and does not require reheating like cold rolled steel. It is also essentially normalized as it is allowed to cool at room temperature; this means it&#;s free from internal stresses that can arise from quenching or work-hardening processes.
One of the many differences between hot and cold rolled steel is price. Hot rolled steel tends to be cheaper than cold rolled steel because it is manufactured without any delays in the process and does not require reheating like cold rolled steel. It can be used in applications where precise shapes and tolerances are not required, such as:
Contact us to discuss your requirements of hot rolled steel bar. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.