Hot rolled steel vs cold rolled. They both make for ideal materials for certain custom metal parts. While these two forms of steel have their similarities, they also have a few key differences that make them attractive options for different products.
Winco Metal Stamping will guide you through the basics of both hot rolled steel vs cold rolled, explore the differences between the two, and provide a guide on which material to select based upon need.
The Basics of Hot Rolled Steel
Hot rolled steel, also known as mild steel, is created from low carbon steel. In order to get to its final form, this steel is rolled out and processed in temperatures past its recrystallization temperature — on average, above 1700 degrees Fahrenheit.
As this steel is a processed product, it offers better formability and workability, which makes it easier to work with for a secondary project.
Benefits and Applications
Hot rolled steel’s largest benefit over cold rolled steel is that it is much more cost-effective. This is because cold rolled steel has additional processing steps it needs to go through in order to reach completion.
Another key benefit of hot rolled steel is that it contains minimal internal stress. As the material begins to cool, the steel normalizes in structure and internal stress is largely reduced.
One of the best applications of hot rolled steel is in the agricultural industry. Its strength, cost-effectiveness, and durability make it an attractive option for several products including tractors and harvesters, and is used in the building composition of barns and silos.
Computer mounting systems and other heavy equipment machinery can also be made with hot rolled steel.
The Basics of Cold Rolled Steel
Cold rolled steel is a byproduct of hot rolled steel, which means the predecessor has to come first. When the raw material has reached the point of being considered hot rolled steel, the product goes through a few additional processing steps.
The steel moves through an additional set of rollers that are set to room temperature. This is done to give the steel increased strength and a better surface finish, and there is higher precision since it doesn’t shrink like hot rolled steel.
Benefits and Applications
One of the advantages of cold rolled steel over hot rolled steel is increased strength. On average, cold rolled steel is 20 percent stronger than hot rolled. This is because keeping the steel at room temperature helps it maintain its structural integrity.
Another benefit to cold rolled steel is its smoother finish. While this is mainly for aesthetic purposes, it does make it an attractive option for consumer products.
Lastly, cleaner edges can be found on cold rolled steel. This is largely due to its manufacturing process.
Cold rolled steel can be seen in furniture hardware parts, medical equipment parts, computer brackets, and socket housings.
Key Differences
There are three distinct differences between hot rolled steel and cold rolled.
- Hot rolled steel requires less processing steps.
- Cold rolled steel is often more expensive because of the extra processing steps, but it is stronger and is more visually impressive.
- Hot rolled steel’s internal stress is greatly reduced on its own during the cooling phase. Whereas with cold rolled steel, the internal pressure needs to be relieved before processing.
Connect with Winco Stamping
Winco Metal Stamping has been an industry leader in all types of metal stamping and other various forms of metal work. And our capabilities extend beyond just stamping.
As an ISO 9001 Certified company, quality is central to all of our work. So, ready to take the next step with either hot or cold rolled steel? Connect with us today to learn more about the work we can do for you to bring your next project to life.
