What is the main difference between Hot Rolled Steel and Cold Rolled steel?

Cold Rolled steel will have closed thickness profile and good surface texture & flatness compared with Hot Rolled Steel.Hot Rolled Steel is rolled above Recrystallisation Temperature and Cold Rolled steel is of below Recrystallisation Temperature. Hot Rolled coils are available above 1.60 mm to 10.00 mm thickness & Cold rolled sheets are available up to 0.10 mm to 4.00 mm Worldwide.

Hot Rolled Steel

The Difference
The process of hot rolling involves rolling steel at a temperature above the steels recrystallization temperature, which takes place over 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. Steel that is above the recrystallization temperature can be shaped and formed much more easily than colder steel, and the steel can start in much larger sizes. It is also typically cheaper to manufacture than cold rolled steel, and is often manufactured without pauses or delays in the process so the steel doesnt need to be reheated. During the cooling process, hot rolled steel will shrink and the size and shape of the steel will be less predictable than cold rolled steel.

Appearance
Hot rolled products often will have a scaly finish and more rounded and less precise corners than cold rolled steel will.

What Its Used For

Youll find hot rolled products like hot rolled steel bars in the welding and construction trades such as making railroad tracks, I-beams, and other steel construction materials that dont require super precise shapes.

Cold Rolled Steel

The Difference
Cold rolled steel is manufactured at temperatures below its recrystallization temperature, typically at around room temperature. Because the steel is manufactured at a much lower temperature, theres no need to worry about the steel shrinking or changing form or appearance.

Appearance

The cold rolled steel end products like cold finished steel bar has a much smoother appearance and may have square corners more accurate in dimension and finish

What Its Used For

Cold rolled steel is much more preferred in the machining world where the quality of the steel is an important factor of the quality of the final product, and the appearance of the steel is also an important factor.