How to distinguish hot rolled and cold rolled steel?

BlogDate: 18-11-2024 by: Nhu Quynh

Hot rolled and cold rolled steel are both important raw materials in the production of many types of finished steel products. So what are hot rolled vs cold rolled steel? What is the difference between these two types of rolled steel and what are the applications of these two types of rolled steel?

Let's explore more deeply with MRS Steel about the basic knowledge of hot rolled & cold rolled steel as well as the benefits it brings to businesses in many different fields through the article content below.

Let's learn more about hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel

Learn about hot rolled and cold rolled steel

Hot rolled and cold rolled steel are important raw materials in the steel production process. Both types of steel are metals whose production requires high technical skills and solid expertise. Next, let's learn about hot rolled steel vs cold rolled steel.

What is hot rolled steel?

Hot rolled steel is a type of steel produced through a hot rolling process at high temperatures, often exceeding 1000°C. This process can change the material and shape of the metal. Hot rolled steel products are often dark green, less shiny and lack aesthetics.

Hot rolled steel are usually produced at high temperatures

What is cold rolled steel?

Cold rolled steel is essentially a hot rolled steel that has been cooled and re-rolled at room temperature. After going through the process of gradually reducing the length of the cold rolled steel, it has appropriate dimensions and smooth surface quality. Because it goes through many processing processes, cold rolled steel often has a higher price than hot rolled steel, so product quality as well as aesthetics are also highly appreciated compared to hot rolled steel.

Cold rolled steel has a smoother surface than hot rolled steel

Difference between Hot-rolled and Cold-rolled steel

To distinguish between hot rolled and cold rolled steel, in addition to learning about the nature through the definition of each type of steel coil mentioned above, we need to differentiate through factors such as the normal thickness, price of each type, surface, and edge of the steel coil. In addition, we can consider additional factors such as tolerance, accuracy, and storage method of each type of steel coil. Let's see the differences between these two types of rolled steel through the table below.

Table comparing the differences between hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel

Comparison criteria	Hot-rolled steel	Cold-rolled steel
Thickness	>0,9 mm	0,15mm - 2,0mm
Surface, color	The surface is rough, the blue-gray color turns rusty red after a long time	Smooth surface, light gray color
Edge	The two edges of the roll are often rounded, rough, and turn rusty when left for a long time	Usually neatly trimmed
Tolerance	The tolerance is larger due to the production process; the hot temperature cools down, so the steel deforms itself and cannot be controlled	Tolerances are tighter due to reduced temperatures throughout the process and strict control of the coolant action
Price	Cheaper than cold rolled steel	Higher than hot rolled steel
Preservation	Hot-rolled steel coils can be left outdoors for long periods of time without using coverings	Should be stored indoors and should be covered with a cover to prevent scratches on the steel surface.

Advantages and disadvantages of hot rolled and cold rolled steel

Each type of steel will have its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's learn about the advantages and disadvantages of hot rolled and cold rolled steel through the table below.

Advantages and disadvantages of hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel

Criteria	Hot-rolled steel	Cold-rolled steel
Advantages	Easy to bend, easy to shape So Easy To Preserve Good bearing capacity Lower price than cold rolled steel	The quality of the finished product is consistent The surface is highly aesthetic High durability and hardness High accuracy
Disadvantages	Low aesthetics Difficult to control size and shape	Easy to rust The price is higher than hot rolled steel

Applications of hot rolled and cold rolled steel

Hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel are two dominant types of steel on the market today. In addition to being commonly used in steel production, hot rolled vs. cold rolled steel are also indispensable materials for the production of many popular civil products today.

Hot rolled steel is an indispensable raw material source in the steel production process. In addition to being a source of raw materials for the production of cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel is also used to serve the construction, mechanical, transportation, household appliances, and other industries that use billets, beams, and H-shaped steel.

Cold rolled steel is mainly used to produce products such as steel sheets and galvanized steel coils with square and round details and smooth surfaces. Cold rolled steel has high aesthetics and precision, so they are often used in technical and aesthetic projects such as manufacturing cars, air conditioners, refrigerators, food containers, televisions,...

Galvanized steel pipe is one of the applications of hot rolled steel

Where should you buy hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel?

Hot rolled and cold rolled steel are used in many fields. Therefore, businesses should choose products with good quality and according to standards to ensure quality. Currently, there are many units supplying hot rolled vs cold rolled steel in the Vietnamese market.

MRS Steel is one of the units chosen and highly appreciated by many customers for many years. Steel products provided by MRS Steel are all standard quality products that do not rust, yellow, or warp.

MRS Steel has provided you with information about hot rolled and cold rolled steel. If you have any questions or request a quote for steel products that need us to answer, please contact us!