But cold rolled steel undergoes additional processing steps resulting in improved properties that can be exploited for different applications.
Cold rolled sheet metal vs hot rolled.
In this article we will compare hot rolled vs cold rolled steel sheets.
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.
Cold rolled has a smooth and shiny finish while hot rolled has a grey and scaly finish.
The smaller products are also much more tolerant than the larger hot rolled versions.
Cold rolled has sharper corners and more precise dimensions than hot rolled.
Once hot rolled steel has cooled it is then re rolled at room temperature to achieve more exact dimensions and better surface qualities.
Basic difference between hot rolled and cold rolled steel is the way they are processed.
The differences between hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel relates to the way these metals are processed at the mill and not the product specification or grade.
Whereas cold rolled steel is processed in cold reduction mills followed by annealing and tempering.
Hot rolled steel is rolled or shaped at a high temperature while cold rolled steel is rolled at room temperature.
The main advantages of cold working are.
Cold rolling is done when the metal is able to form new grains as the old ones are deformed by rolling and bending the metal.
Finished products created by the cold rolled steel process include bars strips rods and sheets which are usually smaller than the same products available through hot rolled methods.
Hot rolling is mainly used to produce simple cross sections or sheet metal.
During cold rolling the steel is annealed or exposed to heat and allowed to cool which improves ductility.
Typically mills take hot rolled steel after it s mostly or completely cooled and work it to its final dimension by either rolling it extruding it or drawing the metal over a mandrel.
Both hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel start out in essentially the same way and both can have the same grades and specifications.
Hot rolled steel involves rolling the steel above re crystallization temperatures.
As an example a hot rolled steel product may have a yield strength of 235 mpa.
In comparison a cold rolled steel product with the same chemical composition has a yield strength of 365 mpa.
When the hot rolled metal cools it will reconfigure making the finished product with a looser tolerance when compared to the cold rolled metal.
Hot rolling and cold rolling are two methods of shaping steel.
Cold rolled steel is essentially hot rolled steel that has been through further processing.
Each type of steel has its advantages and disadvantages and costs for the two types of steel are also different.
Thus the yield strength of cold rolled steel is higher than that of hot rolled steel.
Cold worked steels are typically harder and stronger than standard hot rolled steels.