What is Cold Rolled Stainless Steel?

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Cold rolled steel, sometimes abbreviated to CRS, is well-known for being an extremely ductile material, and is ideal for applications where precision is necessary. It is used in many applications, like household appliances, furniture, lockers, and filing cabinets. In construction applications, CRS is commonly used for building garages, steel sheds, and other industrial buildings.

In simple terms, cold rolling is the process of strengthening steel by changing its shape without using heat. Cold rolling, unlike hot rolling such as with hot rolled steel, can only occur when a metal is below its re-crystallization temperature. Where hot rolling is performed using high temperatures, cold rolling is performed at room temperature. Instead of heat, mechanical stress is used to change the structure of metal. Strain hardening can then increase the metal's strength by up to 20%, and can also improve a metal's surface finish.

During the cold rolling process, when the metal is put under mechanical stress, it causes a permanent change to the crystalline structure of the metal. This causes an increase in its strength and often improves corrosion resistance. Along with improving its surface finish, another advantage of cold rolling is better dimensional accuracy.

A cold rolled stainless steel coil can be precision manufactured, allowing the metal to be produced to extremely tight tolerances. The act of work hardening the stainless steel material through cold rolling allows us to achieve various levels of temper, such as quarter-, half- and full hard. The hardness level depends on how much cold work has been done on the steel. Quarter-, half-, and full hard stocks have greater amounts of reduction (sometimes up to 50%). This increases the yield point but decreases the ductility of the steel. Quarter-hard steel can be bent back over itself without breaking, while half-hard can be bent at a 90-degree angle, and full hard can be bent at a 45-degree angle without breaking it. Cold rolled metal is often used in applications where the metal needs to be bent without the risk of breaking.

Characteristics of Cold Rolled Steel Sheet in Coil

Enhanced Surface Finish: Cold rolling produces a smoother and more refined surface compared to hot rolling, making cold rolled steel sheets in coil suitable for applications that require a polished appearance.

Dimensional Precision: Cold rolling allows for precise control over thickness reduction, resulting in uniform thickness throughout the coil. This dimensional accuracy is crucial for applications that demand consistent dimensions.

Mechanical Strength: The cold rolling process work-hardens the steel, leading to improved mechanical properties such as increased tensile strength and hardness. This makes cold rolled steel coils suitable for load-bearing applications.

Formability: Despite its increased strength, cold rolled steel maintains good formability, making it ideal for applications that involve bending, shaping, and forming.

Tight Thickness Tolerances: Cold rolled steel sheets in coil can be produced with tight thickness tolerances, ensuring consistent dimensions and performance in various uses.

Uniformity of Properties: The cold rolling process produces uniform material properties throughout the coil, leading to consistent performance across the entire surface.

Corrosion Resistance: Cold rolled steel sheets in coil can be further treated with coatings or surface treatments to enhance their corrosion resistance, making them suitable for corrosive environments.

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