Looking for steel products and not exactly sure what type you need? Turn to the experts at Metal Supermarkets to guide you in the right direction.
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When deciding between Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled steel, all you need to know is what the material will be used for, how it will be used, and the size requirements. The Metal Supermarkets team will use these details to determine which type of steel will be best for your project.
Dwayne Swenson, owner of Metal Supermarkets Seattle (Kent) and Tacoma in Washington and Portland, Oregon, talks about the popularity of Hot Rolled and Cold Finished steel products, “Hot Rolled steel is the most popular type of steel we offer. Construction grade A36 Hot Rolled (mild steel) bar is the bread-and-butter steel product for a lot of industries because it is more ductile (pliable) and generally less expensive than Cold Finished drawn products.”
The first thing to remember is that the terms Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled do not refer to any grades or strengths, but merely the process used to create the bar product at the mill.
Hot Rolled Steel is softer and more pliable than Cold Rolled Steel. Hot Rolled Steel has a light- grey, rough finish and rounded edges (in Flat and Square Bars), and Hot Rolled products are typically oversized.
Hot Rolled steel bars are used in the welding and construction trades where the items being constructed do not require super precise shapes and tight tolerances.
Cold Rolled Steel typically has a smooth, somewhat shiny finish with square edges (in Flat and Square Bars), and the sizes are more precise.
Cold Finished steel bars are preferred in the machining world where the quality of the steel is an important factor of the quality of the final product, and the appearance of the steel is also an important factor.
Want to learn more about the differences between these metals? Visit our blog post on the topic! “Differences Between Hot Rolled and Cold Rolled Steel”
Business owners and makers have thousands of steel varieties on the market to choose from. With such an array of metal options, selecting the correct type, grade, and finish of your building material can be tedious. Pennsylvania Steel Co. offers a vast assortment of premium steel products in Pennsylvania, Ohio, the Southeast, and New England. Plus, our online resources help our clients build the best projects possible.
Today, we’re breaking down hot rolled vs cold rolled steel to help you understand which is better for your application.
Not to be mistaken with the four main types of steel, the general steel manufacturing process falls into two main categories: hot-rolled and cold-rolled. This process starts with the extreme heating and consequent oxidation of mined steel ore. Basically, pieces of large, rectangular metal called billets are heated and flattened into sizable rolls.
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From there, the steel will either be hot rolled or cold rolled for its finalized design. “Rolling” refers to the vital step in the manufacturing process that involves forming the metal by using a series of rollers in an attempt to reshape it or enhance its properties. This formation method (hot or cold rolling) will determine the material’s ultimate function.
Once steel is heated past its recrystallization temperature (over º F) it can be easily formed and sized. If the material isn’t processed further at room temperature, it’s considered hot-rolled. The steel that goes through further refinement processes is categorized as cold-rolled. Explore further metal rolling methodology differences, capabilities, and tolerances below!
As hot-rolled steel cools, it tends to shrink and form asymmetrically, allowing for more variation in shape and size. For this reason, hot-rolled steel is used in projects where the finished product doesn’t have specific dimensional requirements.
For example, one of the most commonly recognized forms of hot-rolled steel is sheet metal, which is frequently used in creating air ducts and motor vehicles. In these applications, surface finish and proportions don’t need to be precise.
As a result, hot-rolled steel is typically cheaper in price simply because it doesn’t involve any further processing. Since it doesn’t require any reheating, production costs for hot-rolled steel are much lower.
That being said, cold-rolled steel needs reheating to further refine its structural properties. In order to achieve more exact dimensions and surface quality, the metal is re-rolled at a lower temperature. This supplemental rolling results in more specified attributes including exterior finish, durability, and dimensional parameters.
PA Steel, for example, carries a variety of cold-finished bars in a range of grades and finishes for businesses all over the eastern United States. This equipment is used for creating products such as furniture, garages, and home appliances.
Although it’s typically up to 20% more durable than hot-rolled, cold-finished steel is limited to basic square, round, and flat shapes. Despite its improved resistance, the additional processing performed on cold-rolled metals may make it more susceptible to internal stress. Finalized materials need to be stress relieved prior to grinding or cutting to avoid potentially volatile warping or distortion.
The environmental implications of hot-rolled and cold-finished steel production processes differ significantly. Hot-rolled steel production generally consumes more energy due to the high temperatures involved, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, cold-finished steel may require more processing steps, potentially consuming more resources, but it can offer energy savings by not needing the extreme heat of hot rolling. Sustainability factors can vary depending on factors such as energy efficiency, material wastage, and water usage in each process.
The mechanical properties of hot-rolled and cold-finished steel products vary due to the different manufacturing processes. Hot-rolled steel typically has a rougher surface finish and less precise dimensions compared to cold-finished steel. Cold-finished steel tends to have improved dimensional accuracy, smoother surfaces, and higher tensile strength. Cold-finished steel may also exhibit better ductility and toughness compared to hot-rolled steel, making it more suitable for applications requiring precise dimensions and enhanced mechanical properties.
The preference for either cold-finished or hot-rolled steel in specific industries or applications depends on various factors. Cold-finished steel is often favored in industries requiring tight tolerances, excellent surface finish, and precise dimensional control, such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and construction. Hot-rolled steel is commonly used in structural applications where exact dimensions are less critical, such as in building construction, shipbuilding, and general fabrication. Understanding the requirements of the application, including factors like cost, aesthetics, and mechanical properties, helps in choosing the most suitable steel type for a particular industry or project.
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