- Hot rolled steel refers to a metal working process that depends on heating the steel to a temperature above its re-crystallization temperature - over 1500 ˚F – to make it easier to form, then subject the metal to roll-pressing through a series of rollers to flatten and reach the required thickness.
Hot rolled steel is ideal selection where dimensional tolerances aren’t as important as overall material strength, and where surface finish isn’t a key concern. However surface finish can be improved and processed; Scaling can be removed by grinding, sand blasting, or acid-bath pickling.
Once scaling has been removed, various brush or mirror finishes can also be applied. Descaled steel also offers a better surface for painting and other surface coatings. It is commercially sold either in sheets or in coils. Typical uses are in structural sections, containers, tanks, gas cylinders and truck frames to name a few.