Cold Rolled Steel

Cold Rolled Steel

Cold rolled steel is steel that has been shaped without the application of heat. Cold steel is unoxidized, has a smooth surface texture, and is commonly used in light-duty furniture and other objects that do not need the strength required of structural steel. The process is done at or around room temperature where the steel is covered in oil and then shaped. Applications for cold rolled steel include automobile parts, appliance parts, furniture parts, computer-cabinet hardware, small appliance parts, and other industrial purposes. Important factors to consider when selecting cold rolled steel are coil condition, thickness and width limits, coil diameter, coil weight, and surface quality.

There are many methods of forming cold rolled steel, including bending, hemming, drawing, stretching, flanging, and draw or stretch forming. Cold rolled steel products are manufactured in three different quality types. The first is commercial quality, which is mostly used for hollow metal work. Drawing quality, the second type of cold rolled steel quality, has a greater degree of ductility. The third quality, physical quality, is commercial steel that is further processed. Although cold rolled steel doesn't have the shape range that hot rolled steel does, cold rolled steel offers more tensile strength and a smoother finish.