Cold Rolled Vs Hot Rolled Steel Sheet

Hot rolled steel involves rolling the steel above re crystallization temperatures.

Cold rolled vs hot rolled steel sheet.

Whereas cold rolled steel is processed in cold reduction mills followed by annealing and tempering. During cold rolling the steel is annealed or exposed to heat and allowed to cool which improves ductility. Basic difference between hot rolled and cold rolled steel is the way they are processed. Hot rolled steel involves rolling the steel at high temperatures where cold rolled steel is processed further in cold reduction mills where the material is cooled followed by annealing and or tempers rolling.

Hot rolling is mainly used to produce simple cross sections or sheet metal. When the hot rolled metal cools it will reconfigure making the finished product with a looser tolerance when compared to the cold rolled metal. Cold rolled has a smooth and shiny finish while hot rolled has a grey and scaly finish. This looser tolerance makes it easier to force the metal into a variety of different shapes.

Cold rolled has sharper corners and more precise dimensions than hot rolled. There are some fundamental differences between these two types of metal. Hot rolled steel has rounded edges a rough surface texture and no grease on its finish. Hot rolled steel is rolled or shaped at a high temperature while cold rolled steel is rolled at room temperature.

Alternatively cold rolled steel has sharp edges a very smooth surface texture and an oily or greasy feel to it. Cold formed is manufactured in two steps. Hot rolling and cold rolling are two methods of shaping steel. Hot rolled is manufactured in a single or two step process heating pre rolled steel beam blanks to such a high temperature that it allows it to be easily shaped and formed into sheet pile.

When to use hot rolled steel the pros and cons of hot rolled steel come down to strength versus price.