Steel processing is as complex as it is useful. The variety of uses of this metal material depends on how it was processed. Key applications range from house frames to machinery parts, or even railways and appliances when combined with other metals.
One of the processed steel types is flat steel. Flat steel products are made of steel sheets and plates rolled from slabs. Flat-rolled steel products consist of two kinds, namely, hot rolled sheets and cold rolled sheets. They are manufactured differently, each having its particular application.
Hot Rolled Steel
Hot rolled steel is turned into a coil of steel while the temperature is above 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. This process makes the material more malleable, making it easier for the material to be rolled. Because of its malleability, hot rolled steel is used as a material for structural components. Some uses for hot-rolled steel include:
- Structural Sections
- Tanks
- Racking
- Guardrails
- Railroad tracks
Though hot rolled steel is extremely malleable, it cannot be used to create intricate products. It is used most of the time for simple-shaped items like beams and poles.
Also, since exact dimensions aren’t required, and the steel’s appearance isn’t that important, some companies prefer using the scaly products in machining or metalworking.
Cold Rolled Steel
Cold rolled steel is as its name suggests. Instead of coiling it while extremely malleable, the steel is rolled while the temperature is below 1700 degrees F, usually at room temperature.
Because the steel is made and rolled at such low temperatures, its structure does not change. Due to its smoother and more accurate composition, it is typically used in:
- Automobiles
- Appliances
- Building/construction
Cold rolled steel costs a little more than hot rolled steel because of the time and effort needed to roll it into a coil. Cold rolled steel has a shiny and smooth finish, while hot-rolled steel tends to be gray and scaly.
The cold rolled steel’s tensile strength is higher than that of hot rolled steel. Cold rolled has a tensile strength of 85,000 psi while hot-rolled steel has 67,000 psi. Cold rolled steel’s yield strength is also higher than that of hot-rolled steel, at 70,000 psi compared to the latter’s 45,000 psi.
This makes cold-rolled steel ideal in the machining industry, in which the quality of steel determines the quality of the final product.
Quality is Still Key
Depending on what you need them for, the quality of your coil of steel will always matter. If you are in the manufacturing, machinery, or even construction business, you will need to use only the highest quality of steel.
Hascall Steel Co ensures that you get only the best quality of steel according to your specifications. Fill out our form for your questions or to let us know what else we can do for you. Contact us today.