Hot-rolled Steel

Hot-rolled steel is brought to extremely high temperatures of over 1700 degrees in a machine or kiln before it is processed, shaped or extruded. Because the steel is hot, it becomes easier to shape and manipulate into different forms and shapes using everything from machinery to hand tools.

Advantages of Hot-rolled Steel

Hot-rolled steel has its advantages for various applications. For example, if you need a piece of steel that is curved or arched, this can be achieved through the hot-rolling process. You should have no problem finding hot-rolled steel:

• Massive sheets
• Shaped beams
• Arched or angled pieces

Not only is hot-rolled steel available in a larger array of forms and pieces, it can be used to create large pieces without having to worry about the integrity of the material being compromised. Because of this, hot-rolled steel is often used in structural projects. 

Disadvantages of Hot-rolled Steel 

With hot-rolled steel being somewhat reconfigured through the heating and cooling process, the ending finish is usually more grainy and rough. Hot-rolled steel can also be less durable than cold-rolled steel, sometimes bending or denting with much less force. Additionally, hot-rolled steel tends to have a higher carbon content of 0.29 percent, which can be a concern during forging.

Cold-rolled Steel

Cold-rolled steel is not necessarily formed cold, but is formed at a temperature that is pretty much the same as the current temperature of the room or area the steel is in. In other words, the metal is not heated before it is processed or formed in the equipment. Therefore, it is shaped with heavy-duty rolling equipment and machinery that uses strong resistance and force to alter the material's structure. 

Advantages of Cold-rolled Steel

Cold-rolled steel does have some advantages because it has not been altered by chemical transformations or by heat. This form of steel is much harder in composition, so it retains its shape very well. Cold-rolled steel sustains strain hardening, which means that it can have its strength boosted by as much as 20 percent. Additionally, cold-rolled steel has a smoother finish, which can be important for aesthetic purposes. It also has a carbon content right around 0.18 percent, which makes it easier to forge. 

Disadvantages of Cold-rolled Steel

Because cold-rolled steel is less malleable at its natural temperature, there can be limitations to the available shapes of this product. For example, cold-rolled shapes may be limited to:

• Rounded or tubular rods
• Cubical-shaped pieces or rods
• Flat sheets or strips

Additionally, it can be more difficult to find large cold-rolled pieces than it would be to find large hot-rolled pieces. This is because to be sold as cold-rolled, the pieces must have a certain resiliency and strength, which can be lost when pieces are machined to larger proportions.

Find the Cold-rolled and Hot-rolled Steel You Need

Finding the steel components you need is important, and Schorr Metals Inc. can help you get just what you need to complete every project.  Contact them for all of your metal product and fabrications needs.