The Advantages and Disadvantages of Hot Rolled Carbon Steel Plate
Hot rolled carbon steel plate has the advantage of affordability and speed. What it lacks in precise dimensions it makes up for with its strength and durability.
Balance your material requirements with available resources and project timelines when choosing the right steel for your project. It’s also important to seek expert advice and find reliable suppliers and fabricators for the job.
Durability
Hot rolled carbon steel plate has an inherent durability that makes it ideal for heavy load-bearing applications. It can be used in everything from oversized vehicle framing to shop projects. It’s also a key component of the aerospace and construction industries, where it enhances aircraft components and provides robust support for buildings and infrastructure.
The durability of hot rolled carbon steel is due to its strength and resistance to fatigue. It’s also a cost-effective option for large structural parts that don’t require a high level of surface finish or precise dimensional tolerances.
Unlike cold-rolled steel, which undergoes additional processing after the cooling process, hot rolled carbon steel is less expensive because it requires no further post-processing. This allows it to be affordable for many applications, including those with tight budgets.
In addition to its affordability, hot rolled steel also offers good workability and weldability. Its light scale and low Carbon and Manganese Hot rolled carbon steel plate chemistry make it easier to form, bend, and weld. Its slightly rough surface and less precise dimensional accuracy are not usually a problem for most applications, however, and can be improved through processes like grinding, sandblasting, and acid-bath pickling.
Corrosion Resistance
Hot rolled carbon steel plate is a good choice for applications where corrosion resistance is important. This type of metal resists rust better than low-carbon steel, especially when galvanized. This makes it a good choice for outdoor uses, like guardrails. It can also be used indoors, where it will not be exposed to as much weathering. However, it is not as resistant to corrosion as stainless steel.
This metal is easy to form and weld, making it ideal for fabrication. It also has high yield strength and tensile strength, meaning that it can withstand a lot of pressure before deforming or breaking.
One disadvantage of hot rolled steel is that it can warp slightly during the cooling process after being shaped. This can lead to inconsistent tolerances and a rough surface that may need additional grinding or sandblasting to achieve the desired finish. Another drawback is that it doesn’t have as good a tolerance range as cold rolled steel.
For this reason, this steel is most commonly used for projects that are not overly complex and do not require tight tolerances. You will find it in railroad tracks, for instance, where the material must be able to withstand significant wear and tear over time. However, if you need to have more precise tolerances, hot rolled pickled and oiled (HRP&O) steel is an excellent option. It has the same material properties as standard hot rolled carbon steel but is washed in an acid bath and then brushed with dry oil, which prevents the formation of iron oxide, or rust.
Strength
Hot rolled carbon steel has higher strength and harder properties than cold-rolled, but it also comes with some drawbacks that can impact its suitability for certain applications. This includes a rougher surface finish and less precise dimensional tolerances.
The key to understanding these differences is recognizing that hot rolled steel undergoes much more intense processing than cold rolled steel. This involves heating the steel to temperatures above its recrystallization point so that it can be rolled, formed, and shaped while still being malleable enough to work with. Once this process is complete, the steel will be cooled very slowly to room temperature and then normalized. This process helps to reduce internal stress that can cause warping in the finished product.
The result of this intense heat treatment and slow cooling is that hot rolled steel tends to have a blue-grey finish with dull rounded edges and inexact dimensions along the length of the plate. This is due to the mill scaling that forms on the surface of the material during its manufacturing process. This scale can be removed later through a pickling process that uses acid baths. These characteristics make this steel better suited for use in projects that don’t require a smooth, refined surface or tight dimensional tolerances. When considering whether or not hot rolled carbon steel is the right fit for your project, balance your material requirements with your budget constraints and available resources to make an informed decision. Be sure to choose a reliable supplier and fabricator to ensure quality and timely delivery.
Aesthetics
Hot rolled carbon steel is less expensive than cold-rolled carbon, but it tends to warp more during the cooling process. As a result, it may not be ideal for projects that require precise tolerances or smooth surfaces. Cold rolled steel hot dipped galvanized steel coils is more suited for these types of applications and also has more polished edges, making it more visually appealing.
The most common type of carbon steel we sell is mild carbon (low carbon) A36. It is an affordable, workable material that is versatile enough to be used in a wide variety of projects. It’s often seen in things like base plates, brackets and gussets.
Mild steel is easy to weld, drill and form. It can be galvanized to resist corrosion, which makes it even more durable. It’s also extremely strong and is usually used for guardrails of all kinds, whether indoor or outdoor.
Another option for carbon steel is high strength low alloy. It can handle more stress than regular carbon steel and is better suited for applications that need to withstand high levels of impact, like truck bodies and cranes. It’s more corrosive resistant than regular carbon steel, so it’s also a great choice for applications that will be exposed to harsh environments. Like hot rolled carbon steel, it is also easily welded and formed. It’s also commonly used in things like equipment and shelving.
