Hot-Rolled Steel

The hot rolling process starts with a large rectangular slab heated over 1700 degrees F. While still hot, it passes through a series of rollers to achieve the required dimensions. Because hot-rolled steel is cooled and shrinks after processing, it is not commonly used in applications that require strict dimensions. The benefits of hot-rolled steel are that it is cheaper than cold-rolled steel, more malleable, and has greater ductility and toughness than cold-rolled steel. Hot-rolled steel is used in the construction trades as building and structural steel.