The rolling process can be an enigma for the uninitiated, but it plays a significant part in the Steel industry. It is important to understand the basic concept of the rolling process when communicating with your steel supplier. In the Steel industry, the term Cold Rolled vs Cold Drawn vs Hot rolled is very commonly used. Understand how these types of steel are processed and the corresponding uses of each type are essential to ensure that you get the right materials for your project.

Cold Rolled.

• Steel can be processed using a variety of types of equipment and temperature. In one of the processes, the steel passes through a pair of rollers to give the metal a certain thickness.
• When the temperature of the metal is lower than its recrystallization temperature, that is, the temperature at which the grain structure of the steel can change, cold rolling is performed. Cold steel is processed at this lower temperature, additional pressure is required to complete the final product. It usually takes multiple passes through the rolls to reach the required thickness. The result of this process is that steel has high tensile strength, which means it is more resistant to warping or breaking under load.

Cold Drawn Vs Cold Rolled.

• Cold drawn steel is processed like cold-rolled steel at room temperature. However, cold rolling produces flat products, and cold rolled steel produces thin products such as bars or wires. It does this by stamping hot rolled steel through a die-a machine that rotates and gives the metal its final slender shape. Cold drawn steel is suitable for long products, such as shafts and structural parts, as well as aesthetic consumer products.
• Cold-drawn steel has the same advantages as cold-rolled steel. The pressure required to produce cold-drawn steel ensures high tensile strength and a smooth, polished surface. Like cold rolled steel, cold drawn steel does not change shape during processing, so the final product has a predictable thickness and shape. Cold-drawn steel usually has to be pulled multiple times through different dies to reach the required size, which leads to higher production costs.

Hot Rolled Vs Cold Rolled.

• The hot rolled steel passes through the rolls at a higher temperature, it changes. The surface of hot-rolled products is also relatively rough and not as durable as cold-rolled products. Compared with cold-rolled steel, the use of hot-rolled steel has some advantages.
• Hot-rolled steel is more ductile, which makes processing during and after rolling easier. This formability also means that because there are fewer steps in the hot rolling process, the cost of hot rolled steel is lower. For example, the metal does not need to be cooled before passing through the rollers, and can significantly reduce thickness in a single pass (compared to cold rolling that requires multiple passes). Hot-rolled products are most suitable for mass-produced products such as rails and I-beams that do not require surface cleaning.

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