Cold rolled carbon steel is hot rolled steel that has been further processed. Once hot rolled steel has cooled, usually at or below its recrystallization point, it is then annealed and re-rolled at room temperature to achieve more exact thickness, higher strength & hardness, and better surface qualities. Besides altering mechanical properties, the cold rolling process produces steel with tighter tolerances and greater dimensional accuracy than hot rolled steel. It also tends to be more available in lighter gauges and is better suited for applications that require a more visually appealing finish.
Cold Rolled Carbon Steel Applications
Because of its excellent dimensional tolerance and press formability, cold rolled carbon steel is typically used in a wide range of structures and applications such as machinery framing, ductwork, construction, and other varieties of industrial applications.
Typically, carbon steel is used where it is not exposed to external elements due to the risk of the material oxidizing. Cold rolled carbon steel is best suited for more technically precise applications, such as electronics, appliances, automotive use, office furniture, and construction.
Types of Cold Rolled Carbon Steel
Cold rolled carbon steel comes in a variety of carbon content levels:
Low-Carbon Steel-Also known as mild steel, contains less than .3% of carbon. It is highly formable, making it effective for applications that require a great amount of bending and forming.
Medium-Carbon Steel-Contains anywhere from .3% to.6% carbon, which makes it stronger and more durable for applications such as automotive manufacturing.
High-Carbon Steel-Consists of .61% to 1.5% carbon, which changes its physical properties significantly. With higher carbon content, the steel becomes stronger and harder than the lower carbon steels; however, this material exhibits less ductility.
Carbon Steel Coil
