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The difference between hot rolled steel coil and cold rolled steel coil
Release time:
2025-03-31
Hot-rolled steel coil and cold-rolled steel coil are two common types of steel in steel production.
Hot-rolled steel coil and cold-rolled steel coil are two common types of steel in steel production. They are significantly different in production process, performance, application areas, etc. The following are the main differences between the two:
1. Production process
Hot-rolled steel coil: Hot rolling refers to heating the steel ingot or billet to a high temperature (usually between 1100°C and 1250°C), and then compressing it into a steel plate or steel coil by rolling. Due to the high temperature, the plasticity of the steel increases, making it easy to form and process. The surface of the steel coil after hot rolling will have a certain roughness, and the surface oxide layer is thicker.
Cold-rolled steel coil: Cold rolling is to further roll the hot-rolled steel coil into thin plates and thin coils by cooling and pressing at room temperature or slightly above room temperature. The cold rolling process makes the steel surface smoother, the size more precise, and there is no oxide layer on the surface, so it has better surface quality.
2. Surface quality
Hot-rolled steel coil: The surface is relatively rough, usually with oxide scale, and the surface is not as smooth as cold-rolled steel coil, and there may be some minor defects such as pits, burrs, etc.
Cold-rolled steel coil: The surface is smooth and uniform. The steel coil after cold rolling has a higher surface quality and almost no oxide scale. It is suitable for products that require beautiful appearance and high precision.
3. Thickness range
Hot-rolled steel coil: Generally, the thickness is larger, usually from 1.2mm to 25mm. Since hot rolling is carried out at high temperature, the forming ability is strong and it is suitable for manufacturing thicker steel plates.
Cold-rolled steel coil: Generally, the thickness is smaller, usually from 0.2mm to 6mm. The cold rolling process is suitable for the production of thin steel plates, suitable for precision processing and products with high surface quality requirements.
4. Strength and toughness
Hot-rolled steel coil: Due to the high temperature during hot rolling, the grain structure of the steel is relatively large, so the strength of hot-rolled steel coil is relatively low, and it has good plasticity and toughness.
Cold-rolled steel coil: Cold-rolled steel coil has finer grain structure and higher strength due to rolling at room temperature, but relatively poor toughness. The strength and hardness of cold-rolled steel are higher, and it is suitable for applications with high strength requirements.
5. Cost
Hot-rolled steel coil: Due to the simpler production process, the production cost of hot-rolled steel coil is relatively low, which is suitable for mass production and price-sensitive applications.
Cold-rolled steel coil: Due to the complex cold rolling process, additional cooling and processing are required, so the cost is higher. Cold-rolled steel coil is suitable for applications with high requirements for surface quality and dimensional accuracy.
6. Application fields
Hot-rolled steel coil:
Used in building structures, mechanical equipment, ships, automobile frames and other fields.
Suitable for projects that do not pay much attention to surface quality and accuracy requirements, such as steel structures, bridge construction, etc.
Cold-rolled steel coil:
Used in automobile manufacturing, home appliance housings, precision machinery, precision pipes and other fields.
Suitable for products with high requirements for surface finish, dimensional accuracy, strength, etc., such as home appliance housings, automobile body panels, etc.
| Feature | Hot Rolled Steel Coil | Cold Rolled Steel Coil |
| Production Process | Hot rolling at high temperatures | Cold rolling at room temperature |
| Surface Quality | Rough, with oxide scale | Smooth,without oxide scale |
| Thickness Range | Thicker (1.2mm to 25mm) | Thinner (0.2mm to 6mm) |
| Strength & Toughness | Lower strength, higher toughness | Higher strength, lower toughness |
| Cost | Lower cost | Higher cost |
| Applications | Construction, bridges, machinery etc. | Automotive, home appliances, precision machinery, etc. |
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