Sheet metal products, main types of sheet metal products

Sheet metal is perhaps one of the most sought-after rolled products. There is a huge variety of rolled products in terms of thickness, sheet size, and so on. Discussing such differences is neither practical nor meaningful. Therefore, let's look at a more meaningful classification of sheet metal products available for purchase. HereA wide range of sheet metal products allows you to find the best solution for any task.

Main types of sheet metal products. Key distinguishing factors

The main difference between rolled products is their production technology. Putting aside classification by rolled product form (profile/corrugated/strip, etc.), we can identify the main types of sheet metal:

• Hot rolled;
• Cold rolling.

Now about the differences.

Hot rolled metal Hot rolled steel is produced by rolling a hot mass of steel alloy in a rolling mill. The molten material is fed under rollers, which evenly distribute it over the surface, forming sheet metal. Hot rolled metal is produced in thicknesses ranging from 4 to 160 mm. The main product characteristics can be summarized as follows:

• High weldability;
• Corrosion resistance;
• Heat resistance;
• Excellent performance characteristics;
• Resistance to mechanical damage.

Cold-rolled metal products It is produced by cold-rolling sheet steel on a specialized rolling mill. This technology allows for the production of sheets with thicknesses ranging from 0.35 to 5 mm. Products can also vary in hardness. The main advantages of cold-rolled sheet metal include the following:

• High quality of surface layer;
• There is no need for additional surface treatment before painting (unless, of course, a corrosion coating has already formed);
• High resistance to deformation under the influence of temperatures during welding;
• High performance properties;

The disadvantage is that with prolonged use without a paint coating, the metal is relatively quickly susceptible to corrosion. But the main advantage is that cold-rolled sheet metal is ideal for creating high-precision metal structures, as the material is resistant to thermal deformation during welding.

Taking into account the properties described above, you can choose the optimal solution for each specific task, as the cost of cold- and hot-rolled sheet metal varies significantly. Therefore, this approach can lead to significant savings.