Difference Between Hot Rolled And Cold Rolled Steel

The major difference between hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel is the way they are produced. As the name suggests, hot-rolled steel is rolled using heat. During this process, the steel is heated to cross its recrystallization temperature, which is above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the steel reaches that temperature, it is rolled into the desired shape and size, and then allowed to cool down.

It is during this process, that the steel gains most of its properties like strength, malleability, endurance, and many others. Steel produced like this is used for specific purposes. On the other hand, cold-rolled steel is produced using a high-pressure exerting roller. There is no application of heat in the cold rolling technique.

This very difference causes cold-rolled steel to gain properties that are quite different from hot-rolled steel. This makes cold-rolled steel ideal for situations that are different from the ones where hot-rolled steel is used. The steel produced by following the two techniques is different from each other when it comes to properties such as strength, ductility, finish, shape and size, and so on.