The manufacturing process using cold rolled steel is more common than ever.
However, it does require the use of high quality raw materials. In this article, our team will show you the best cold-rolled steels and include a guide to help you find the best choice for you. Read on.
Finding a good cold rolled steel can be a challenge, as there are many options and manufacturers on the market. How do you know which one is the best? As there are materials on the market from many different origins: Turkey, India, China, Europe, it can be easy to get confused, but our buyer’s guide in this article will help you find the best cold rolled steel.
The best cold rolled steel for the job. Our top picks, the ultimate buying guide.
– What is cold rolled steel
Cold rolled steel is basically a process that enhances the ability of hot rolled steel without the use of heat. Cold rolling takes place at room temperature because it can only occur when the metal is below its recrystallisation temperature. Hot rolling is carried out at high temperatures.
What are the minimum and recommended requirements for buying quality cold rolled steel?
These are the main factors you should consider.
– Use cold-rolled steel of European origin.
This is the best way to get high quality cold rolled steel. Europe has very strict limits on Co2 emissions, so you can reduce your carbon footprint and obtain recognised certification.
Material sourced from distant steel mills such as India tends to be of average quality, with uneven surfaces, poor tolerances and a much higher carbon footprint.
Pictured: European cold rolled steel coils after the cold rolling process.
– A wide range of cold rolled steel grades
Looking at the manufacturing capabilities on offer can be used as a guide and is one of the easiest ways to navigate the world of cold rolled steel. At Tisco steel, for example, we offer unalloyed, micro-alloyed or alloyed cold-rolled steels to cover a wide range of applications. This provides us with the basis for subsequent hardening processes, which we use to manufacture high performance cold rolled steels for applications with special requirements. We produce cold-rolled steels, low-alloyed steels, case-hardened steels, hardened and tempered steels and spring steels with defined parameters and perfect microstructure. We adapt all types of material to the required properties. So once you know at least which cold rolled steel grades are required in your project and which restrictions, it will be easy to find out which cold rolled steel grades are suitable for your project.
Here are some of the requirements for an excellent cold rolled steel as recommended by our sales team
– A hardened and tempered steel with good formability and a high carbon content
Good formability and a high carbon content are essential for optimum hardening and tempering. For this reason, you should only accept materials that are suitable for your quenching or tempering or heat treatment. For example, cold-rolled steels for hardening and tempering are the basis material for various products such as engine timing link plates or safety shoe toe caps. In addition, these cold-rolled steels are particularly suitable for fine cutting, allowing extremely precise cuts with extremely smooth and even cutting edges. To prolong the life of the tools, our hardened and tempered steels can also be phosphated. Our company has worked with hundreds of customers to help them find the best cold-rolled steel. We have done the research for you to help you find the best choice.
In the picture: microstructure of quenched and tempered martensite under the electron microscope. It can be seen that quenching and tempering produces a finer and extremely homogeneous grain microstructure in the cold rolled strip.
– A spring steel with precise yield strength
A cold-rolled steel with a high degree of elasticity
Our cold-rolled spring steels are used in applications where the component must absorb a force and then yield, i.e. in the case of springs. Examples are springs in automotive disc brakes or, in their hardened variants, elastic springs in seat belts.
In both cases, the elasticity of cold-rolled spring steel plays an important role if there is a high degree of dynamic wear. The elasticity of the steel will determine the forces that the material can absorb without permanent deformation. The yield strength determines the maximum force with which the material can actually recover its original shape in the event of unloading.
In the picture: Cold rolled steel strip for springs with high yield strength in storage.
– Cold rolled steel with optimum yield strength adjustment
Thanks to our expertise in the combination of chemical analysis, our cold-rolled steel and heat treatment, we can adjust the yield strength with outstanding precision. In the case of cold-rolled spring steels, we are able to offer a wide range of high-performance designs with a yield strength (Rp0.2) of up to 2,800 MPa. Our products reliably withstand several million loading and unloading cycles. In many cases, these applications are for safety components.
At Tisco Steel, we have been researching cold rolled steel for you for 20 years. We have selected the following grades for you from hundreds of options.
|
N.º de material |
AISI |
EN |
|
1.1231 |
1070 |
C67S |
|
1.1248 |
1075 |
C75S |
|
1.1284 |
C80S |
|
|
1.1269 |
1086 |
C85S |
|
1.1217 |
C90S |
|
|
1.1274 |
1095 |
C100S |
|
1.1224 |
C125S |
|
|
1.2002 |
125Cr2 |
|
|
1.2235 |
80CrV2 |
|
|
1.5026 |
9255 |
56Si7 |
|
1.5634 |
75Ni8 |
|
|
1.8159 |
6150 |
51CrV4 |
|
1.8161 |
58CrV4 |
|
|
1.2003 |
75Cr1 |
|
|
1.2018 |
95Cr1 |
|
|
1.6595 |
68CrNiMo3-3 |
Please feel free to contact us here to discuss your requirements.
Although most cold rolled steel rolling mills have a similar range of specifications and quality, their prices can sometimes vary. So, how do you find the best price for cold rolled steel? With our experience in the cold rolled steel market, we know what will work for you and your new project. At Tisco Steel, we have worked with hundreds of stamping projects. We have done the research to help you find the best option for your project at the right price. We can offer you the following services.
– Cold rolled steel for finishing plates
We supply cold rolled steel to give a 100% smooth cut surface.
Fineblanking requires cold-rolled steel to manufacture parts whose cutting surfaces also use the working surface and must therefore be smooth and free from tears and cracks. For example, parts for locking mechanisms in doors or toothed parts, where the cutting face is also responsible for the tooth shape and optimum product life.
Things to consider when buying fine rolled steel.
You need steel with a high cerminite formation for optimum fine plate performance.
At Tisco Steel, we have developed a special production concept to obtain cold rolled steel grades suitable for thin cutting. Solidified cold-rolled steels, cold-rolled steels for hardening and tempering and cold-rolled spring steels represent the majority of steel strips that are particularly suitable for thin cutting. In addition to forming more than 98% cerminite, the yield and tensile strengths must also be maximised.
The diagram shows the layout of a cold rolling mill processing thin plates.
– Micro-alloyed, high-strength, fine-grained cold-rolled steel
We offer cold-rolled steels with excellent formability and wear resistance as well as unparalleled tight tolerances. Many new projects require cold-rolled steel that guarantees not only complex formability but also high wear resistance. It is also the minimum geometrical tolerances that guarantee high dimensional accuracy. Given this combination of requirements, the ideal solution we can offer you is micro-alloyed, fine-grain cold-rolled steels. They are suitable for the manufacture of, for example, structural parts for car seats.
Things to consider when purchasing micro-alloyed high-strength cold-rolled steels.
Heat treatment after forming can lead to a significant loss of tolerance and dimensional accuracy and therefore often limits the freedom of construction. The solution is a high-strength cold-rolled steel strip based on micro-alloyed fine-grain steel. This steel offers extremely high strength. This means that no heat treatment is required after forming. Our high-strength cold-rolled steel strip has an optimum yield strength and a tensile strength of up to Rp/Rm > 95 %.
– Cold-rolled steel strip with surface preparation for complex forming processes.
We are talking about cold rolled steel strip with a zinc phosphate coating.
If the project requires it, we can supply cold rolled steel enriched with a zinc phosphate layer. This coating is chemically incorporated into the surface of the cold rolled steel strip, forming a protective crystalline layer. The result is a surface base that provides the ideal basis for the cold-rolled steel strip to undergo several processing and upgrading steps. The so-called reward layer provides an excellent basis for adhesion to the subsequent application of paint or varnish. In addition, this non-uniform base can be used to accommodate lubricants, oils or greases. This is particularly relevant when materials that provide higher tensile strength are required, but must be deformed to create the final product.
Things to consider when purchasing zinc phosphate bonded cold rolled steel.
The combination of lubricant and zinc phosphate coating reduces friction during the forming process and therefore allows for complex deformation of parts made from harder cold rolled steel. This zinc coating will significantly reduce tool wear. Examples include needle roller bearings, components for chain saws, drills and others.
– Cold rolled steel strip with different microstructures for hardening and tempering.
They can be tempered to obtain extreme tensile strengths. We are talking about cold-rolled steels with severe restrictions on hardness, homogeneity, elasticity or spring tension. These are martensitic strips, bainitic strips and soxhletic strips which, thanks to their different microstructures and wide range of applications, we can offer you for any demanding application.
In the picture: Tempering process of a cold rolled steel strip in a bell furnace.
– Martensitic cold-rolled steel strip.
There are applications that require particularly hard but very homogeneous steel. Thanks to the martensitic grades, we have found just this combination of load-bearing capacity and precision. Examples of applications are pruning shears with good cutting life and strength.
Things to consider when buying martensitic cold rolled steel.
Flatness. Look for cold-rolled strip that offers perfect control over its manufacture, ensuring optimum martensitic structure and tight tolerances. Observe the flatness of the strip relative to the direction of rolling. Look for values < 1.5 (1.0) µm/mm, which have very little dispersion. Manufacturing example: blades for circular saws. These are cutting blades and must show perfect and precise concentricity. Ensuring this flatness in the manufacture of cold rolled steel strip is very demanding. At Conecband, we are able to perfectly adjust the final hardness and flatness during the manufacturing process.
Typical martensitic strip grades
| Martempered (+QT) | Conforms to EN 10132-3 / -4 |
| Qualification | Yield strength [MPa] |
| C45E | 1.000 – 1.600 |
| C55S | 1.100 – 1.700 |
| C60S | 1.150 – 1.750 |
| C67S | 1.200 – 1.900 |
| C75S | 1.200 – 1.900 |
| C80S | 1.200 – 1.900 |
| C85S | 1.200 – 2.000 |
| C90S | 1.200 – 2.100 |
| C100S | 1.200 – 2.100 |
| 56Si7 | 1.200 – 1.700 |
| 51CrV4 | 1.200 – 1.800 |
You can contact us here to discuss your project.
– Bennett type cold rolled steel strip.
Designed for applications where rigorous bending is required.
Look for PT (pre-tempered) cold rolled steel strip with bainitic pre-tempering for high strength and good bendability. This cold-rolled strip provides excellent elastic properties for parts requiring high dynamic loads. These are springs for fasteninga clamps or fasteners. Pre-hardened strips can sometimes eliminate the need for subsequent heat treatment.
Things to consider when purchasing pre-hardened bainite cold rolled steel.
We offer you high performance bainitic tempered cold rolled steel strips. We are talking about PT strips. Homogeneous cold-rolled steel strip, ready for constant and demanding forming and mechanical values. Remember that you can save yourself the time-consuming and expensive subsequent hardening process of the workpiece. In this way, stamped parts with demanding bends can be produced in a single operation without quench cracks. Look for a cold rolled steel strip which allows high formability, demanding bends, smooth production of contours and punched holes, deep necks or deep drawn necks. As well as notching and bending.
– Sorbitic cold rolled steel strips.
These strips allow the production of reliable springs thanks to their sorbitic texture, as they have a high spring tension. Examples of production: springs with constant force, constant winding of hoover cables, seat belt retraction. Sorbitic cold-rolled steel strips are particularly suitable for the manufacture of very demanding springs that require extreme tensile strength with a long service life.
Things to consider when buying sorbitic cold rolled steel:
Look for a cold-rolled steel strip that allows a particularly high spring tension in one direction and allows a tensile strength of up to 3,000 MPa. This family of materials has an extraordinary load-bearing capacity. Look for cold rolled strip with a yield strength (Rp0.2/Rm) of >95%, and which does not lose strength even during continuous use. Thanks to its high formability, this material is also ideal for deep-drawing processes.