The Benefits of Cold-Rolled Steel | OneMonroe
Not all steelmaking processes involve heating steel to or above its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling, for example, is performed at room temperature. Unsurprisingly, it requires greater pressure to roll and form steel at room temperature. Because cold-rolled steel is manipulated well below the recrystallization temperature of steel, it offers several benefits. Below are some of the top benefits of cold-rolled steel.
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Increased Strength
Cold-rolled steel is significantly stronger than hot-rolled steel. As the rollers compress the steel at room temperature, the steel becomes stronger due to strain hardening. Exactly how strong is cold-rolled steel? Although there are exceptions, cold-rolled steel is typically about 20% stronger than its hot-rolled counterpart.
Improved Surface Finish
In addition to being stronger, cold-rolled steel has an improved surface finish. It’s smoother and has fewer surface imperfections than hot-rolled steel. Not only does this improve the aesthetics of cold-rolled steel; it makes cold-rolled steel a more suitable material for certain applications, such as the construction of bridges.
Tighter Tolerances
Cold rolling allows for tighter tolerances than hot rolling. What does this mean exactly? In metalworking, the term "tolerance" refers to the overall thickness of metal. Cold-rolled steel is typically thinner—without sacrificing strength—than hot-rolled steel. As a result, cold rolling offers tighter tolerances that aren’t found in other steelmaking processes.
Multiple Options
There are several different options available for creating cold-rolled steel, some of which include full-hard, half-hard, quarter-hard, and skin-rolled. Of all those options, full-hard cold rolling is often preferred because it offers the tightest tolerances. When performed correctly, full-hard cold rolling can reduce the thickness of steel by up to 50%. Other cold rolling processes can also reduce the thickness of steel, but they aren’t as effective as full-hard cold rolling.
What Are the Disadvantages of Cold-Rolled Steel?
As you can see, cold-rolled steel offers several benefits, some of which include increased strength, improved surface finish, tighter tolerances, and multiple options. But there are still a few disadvantages associated with cold-rolled steel. When compared to hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel typically costs more to produce. For many metalworking companies, this makes hot rolling a more attractive process.
Another disadvantage of cold-rolled steel is its low malleability. It’s easier to deform and manipulate the shape of hot-rolled steel because the process requires heating steel to or above its recrystallization temperature. Cold rolling, however, involves compressing steel under rollers at room temperature, making it more difficult to shape.
6 Common Uses Of Cold Rolled Steel
What are the common uses of cold-rolled steel?
Construction parts
Production machinery
Metal furniture and home appliances
Automotive industry
Manufacturing industry
Other uses
Not all metal fabrication processes involve heating steel above its recrystallization temperature. For instance, cold rolling is done at room temperature. It should come as no surprise that rolling and forming steel at normal temperatures requires more pressure. However, because cold-rolled steel is processed considerably below the temperature at which steel recrystallizes, it has a number of advantages. Below we discuss the common uses of cold-rolled steel. But first, let’s look into what cold-rolled steel is, how it is formed, and what are the advantages of cold-rolled steel over hot-rolled steel.
What Is Cold Rolled Steel?
Cold-rolled steel is a type of steel processed without the use of heat. Steel that is cooled on its own is subject to a physically-intensive process. In contrast to hot rolling, which is used to make hot-rolled steel, cold rolling can only take place when steel is below its recrystallization temperature.
How Is Cold Rolled Steel Formed?
Cold rolling is done at room temperature. Mechanical stress is utilized to alter the structure of metal instead of heat. The strength of the steel can then be increased by up to 20% through strain hardening, which can also enhance the metal’s surface quality.
Advantages of Cold Rolled Steel
During the cold rolling process, when the metal is put under mechanical stress, it causes a permanent change to the crystalline structure of the metal. This increases its strength and often improves corrosion resistance.
Along with improving its surface finish, another advantage of cold rolling is better dimensional accuracy. This process is ideal for steel products that need to be fabricated with extremely tight tolerances.
Given the many advantages of cold-rolled steel, it is used in numerous applications, such as garages, steel sheds, home appliances, plumbing fixtures, packing materials, aerospace components, and production machinery.
Below are the common uses of cold-rolled steel:
Construction Parts
In the construction industry, cold-rolled steel is commonly used for manufacturing beams, columns, built-up sections, floor decking, and other essential metal components.
In addition, it is used in different construction projects such as grain bins, railways, bridges, storage racks, sheds, drainage facilities, roofing and wall systems, buildings, garages, and more.
Production Machinery
Cold-rolled steel is tested and proven to be potentially strengthened by up to 20%. In addition, cold rolling offers high stamping performance, excellent mechanical properties, and low yield strength.
For more information, please visit cold rolled galvanized steel coil suppliers.
Cold-rolled steel can also be easily cut, punched, drilled, bent, and formed with good results. For all these benefits, cold-rolled steels are heavily used in making production and industrial machinery in the Philippines.
Metal Furniture and Home Appliances
Due to its mechanical stress procedure, cold-rolled steel displays a smooth and sturdy surface. It can also be rolled thinner by up to 50%, which makes it ideal for metal furniture and home appliances manufacturing. It not only guarantees longer service life but also offers a more visually appealing and aesthetic appearance.
At Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. (RISI), our standard cold-rolled steel products in the Philippines can be found in washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, electric fans, office filing cabinets, school lockers, and more.
Automotive Industry
Steel is a common part of the automotive industry. Cold-rolled steel, in particular, is more commonly used over hot-rolled steel due to its wear-resistant and shockproof qualities.
In this type of industry, cold-rolled steel is utilized to manufacture load-bearing elements of vehicles and cars. Additionally, it can also be used to manufacture automotive seat parts, electric motors, fuel tanks, and more.
Manufacturing Industry
In the manufacturing industry, cold-rolled steel is also a widely used steel material. Below are the common cold-rolled products:
Steel coil—a finished, thin, and flat steel sheet or strip referred to as cold-rolled steel coil.
Steel tube—a steel piping with a hollow length and section known as a cold-rolled steel tube.
Steel sheet—a thin, flat, and rectangular metal sheet called cold-rolled steel sheet.
Painted steel—cold-rolled steel has excellent paintability and formability, which is why it’s the base metal of various steel products like galvanized steel.
Other Uses
Finally, the uses of cold-rolled steel are not limited to the above. It can also be used in many other applications. Here’s the list for your reference:
Key Takeaway
When it comes to the uses of cold-rolled steel, you can see that this material can be applied as the main material for a variety of automotive, manufacturing, and construction applications.
If you need cold-rolled steel for your projects, look no further than Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. We are a reputable manufacturer of steel products in the Philippines. We have cold-rolled steel products available in a wide range of sizes and finishes. Get in touch with Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. today!
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