Differences between cold and hot profiles

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, to which other elements are added, depending on its processing and industrial uses. One of those is the cold or hot laminating process, which is quite common in the making of steel, especially when it comes to profiles.

These are commonly used for the construction industry in the making of commercial structures, due to their low cost, durability and easy handling.

Laminating is an industrial process for the makeup of metal in which a metallic material is inserted between one or more pairs of rolling pins to reduce its thickness and to make it more uniform. The objective is to boost the metal’s mechanic properties, such as resistance to traction, elastic limit, lengthening, among others.

We’ll learn the differences between the two main processes for the fabrication of steel profiles; their characteristics, uses and benefits for the carrying out of projects.

Hot Profiles
They are processed at a temperature of more than 900°C (1652°F). Steel processed at this temperature can be shaped considerably more easily than steel that goes through cold lamination.

They are cheaper to produce than steel that is cold-laminated, as there are no pauses or delays in the process; thus, there is no need to reheat the steel.

When the cooling process is performed, hot-laminated steel contracts, making its final shape and size less predictable than with cold-lamination.

Among its advantages, we can point out the possibility to use it for the making of big pieces without worrying about damage. Due to this quality, hot-laminated steel profiles are more than appropriate for the construction and structure industry.

Cold Profiles
They are processed at room temperature. As the steel is made at a much lower temperature, there is no need to worry about the material changing in volume or shape, as it happens with hot-laminated steel, which is adequate for uses that don’t require a precise shape or a low tolerance. This is why cold laminating is more expensive than the hot one.

Cold laminating has more resistance capability, a higher hardness, and a lower ductility, which is the capability of being plastically deformed in a sustainable way and without breaking.

Benefits

·         They can be reinforcements and provide structures with extended durability.
·         It can be used in the fabrication of different pieces, machinery and tools.
·         It is a sustainable material, as it is recyclable.
 
Uses
Hot-laminated steel is used mainly for:
·         Construction structures
·         The construction of metallic buildings
·         Rails for train tracks
·         Heavy Industry
·         Anchorage
·         Wheels

Cold-laminated steel is used mainly for:
·         Parts for machinery
·         Metal furniture
·         File cabinets
·         Tables and chairs
·         Exhaust pipes
·         Domestic appliances
·         Racks

Advantages of hot profiles
·         They allow a better malleability and machinability.
·         Higher performance.
·         They allow the handling of pieces that are great in size and with a variety of shapes.
·         They reduce costs.

Advantages of cold profiles
·         Surface finishing of great quality, smooth, uniform and shiny.
·         Higher tension, resistance and elasticity.
·         A better level of machinability.
·         A longer durability.

Our Sales Manager, @Gabriel Guerrero Martínez, mentions:
“The profiles for commercial steel are fabricated from the rolling of sheets, be it hot or cold. Their design and functionality allow them to be used as complements for metal structures, with the advantage of being able to be adjusted for each project and also being easy to handle. Here in Serviacero Comercial we have the widest range of profiles to provide you with support for your projects.”