Steel or metal can undergo certain rolling processes in hot or cold temperatures, and you can call the processed steel hot rolled or cold rolled steel. Each steel type has its own unique characteristics and differences. They also have different uses in various industrial applications. You can apply the rolling process depending on your rapid manufacturing project needs. This guide will provide essential information about the unique characteristics of hot rolled vs cold rolled steel and their differences.

hot rolled vs cold rolled Steel: The Characteristics of Hot Rolled Steel

Hot rolled steel is the steel or metal that has undergone the metal forming process at temperatures of 1000-degree Fahrenheit or more, depending on the metal type. The process involves rolling the steel at a very high temperature, which is the temperature that allows you to reform the steel to the shape or design that you want.

Here are the characteristics of hot-rolled steel:

●It has a rough surface.

Hot rolled steel doesn’t undergo further finishing processes after completing the initial hot rolling process. Thus, it will have a rough surface, which results from putting the steel at a very high temperature during the rolling process.

●Some distortions might happen.

Distortions in the steel shape itself can happen because the hot-rolled steel will only undergo a single process of hot rolling. There is no further process to create a better finishing, which is the reason distortions can happen on the steel itself.

●Rounded edges and corners.

Rolling the steel at a very high temperature will create rounded edges and rounded corners for the steel, which is something you can’t change unless you apply further finishing processes.

●Tougher surfaces.

Hot rolled steel will have tougher surfaces because of the exposure to the high temperature in the rolling process. Once the steel has cooled down, the steel surfaces become tougher and stronger.

●Good malleability.

The good thing about hot-rolled steel is that the resulting steel will have quite a good malleability. It means you can shape the steel further based on your own design with no hassles.

hot rolled vs cold rolled Steel: The Characteristics of Cold Rolled Steel

Cold rolled steel is the steel or metal that has undergone further rolling processes following the hot rolling process. You can consider it phase two of the rolling process. Hot rolling is phase one, while cold rolling is phase two. Cold-rolled steel is the end product, which has superior characteristics when compared to hot-rolled steel.

Here are the characteristics of cold rolled steel:

●Better surface finishes.

Cold-rolled steel is the improved version of hot-rolled steel, and it has better surface finishes that are smooth and have closer tolerances. It’s great to use for various applications, such as home appliances, vehicle sheet metal parts, and metal furniture.

●Stronger and more durable steel.

Cold-rolled steel also has a stronger and more durable characteristic when compared to hot-rolled steel. It has undergone longer rolling processes in both hot and cold temperatures, which is the reason it can get tougher and more durable for long-term use.

●Best for precise applications.

The cold rolled steel is best to use for precise applications, as it has smoother finishes and a better overall shape, which is fitting to use for making hardware components or parts that require precise design and finishing.

●Resistance against deformation and tension breaking.

Cold-rolled steel has the best resistance against tension breaking and deformation, as it is around 20% more durable than hot rolled steel. It has undergone various hardening processes, which is the reason it is resistant to tension breaking and deformation.

The Differences between Hot Rolled vs Cold Rolled Steel

There are some basic differences between hot rolled and cold rolled steel, as these steel types differ in their creation and use. In short, hot-rolled steel is the rough version of cold-rolled steel. The cold-rolled steel requires more processing to get the metal shape and design with smoother finishes and better overall quality.

Hot rolled vs cold rolled steel, the differences:

●hot rolled vs cool rolled steel: Cost.

Hot rolled steel is cheaper than cold rolled steel because the steel doesn’t undergo any advanced rolling processes. There are no further processes after the initial hot rolling process, making the hot rolled steel much cheaper than the cold rolled steel, which has undergone the advanced rolling and finishing process.

●hot rolled vs cool rolled steel: Steel quality.

The steel quality is better in cold rolled steel because it has been through various processes of finishing to improve the overall quality of the steel. This is the reason cold-rolled steel is much more suitable for precise applications.

●hot rolled vs cool rolled steel: Finishing.

The hot-rolled steel has a rough finishing quality on the steel surface because it doesn’t undergo any specific finishing processes after the initial hot rolling process gets done. Meanwhile, cold-rolled steel has a much better finishing, and you can have various finishing options for the steel surface.

●hot rolled vs cool rolled steel: Durability.

The hot-rolled steel is durable enough for various applications, but the cold-rolled steel still has a higher durability level, although not by a long stretch. Cold-rolled steel is about 20% more durable than hot-rolled steel.

●hot rolled vs cool rolled steel: Uses.

You can use hot-rolled steel in various applications, such as automotive frames, stampings, CNC mill service parts, metal buildings, and agricultural equipment. Meanwhile, cold-rolled steel is used for home appliances, metal furniture, automotive parts, and aerospace components.

Conclusion of hot rolled vs cold rolled steel

You have learned about the unique characteristics of hot rolled vs cold rolled steel and their differences. The hot and cold rolled steel have their own unique characteristics, which make them differ from each other.

Hot rolled steel is the steel type you would want to get if you want to create the frames for various buildings, as it has the roughness and durability that are perfect to build durable structures. Meanwhile, cold rolled steel is the steel type you can get if you want to create metal shells for various products, such as metal furniture and home appliances, or you can also use it to create various hardware components that require precision and accuracy. Contact us for your upcoming projects now!