Things to Know About Hot Rolled Steel Sheet

                In the Steel Industry, rolling is often referred to the metal forming process in which steel stock is passed through one or more pairs of rolls to decrease the thickness. This helps in making the metal sheet uniform. Imagine rolling dough into pancakes - that would be the simplest example to explain how steel sheets are formed. Rolling sheet metals has a lot of commercial applications as the rolled sheets can be used in different ways. 

                The process of rolling can be classified into two major types, depending on the temperature of the metal rolled. When the temperature of the metal sheet is above its recrystallization temperature, the process of rolling is called as hot rolling and the steel sheet thus formed becomes a hot rolled steel sheet. When the temperature of the metal is below its recrystallization temperature, the process is called as cold rolling and the steel sheet thus formed becomes a cold rolled steel sheet. In terms of applications, hot rolling processes more steel than any other manufacturing process.

                Hot Rolled Sheets generally have less deformation induced residual stress and little directionality in their mechanical properties. In certain instances though, non-metallic inclusions can have some directionality, especially sheets less thick than 20mm. Hot rolled steel also have a wider tolerance for the amount of induced carbon compared to a cold rolled sheet. Though a few blacksmiths might find this problematic, but the affordability of hot rolled sheets make them quite popular in the market. 

               One precaution that needs to be taken care of during hot rolling is that the temperature of the metal needs to be uniform. This is important because if the temperature of the sheet is not uniform, the flow of the material will occur more in the warmer parts. If the temperature difference is too much, cracking and tearing can occur as well. 

              The process of hot rolling is commercially used to produce steel sheets for application in rail tracks, truck frames, automotive wheels, pipe and tubular, water heaters, agriculture equipment, strappings, stampings, compressor shells, rail car components, wheel rims, metal buildings, railroad-hopper cars, doors, shelving, discs, guard rails, automotive clutch plates.