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19 March 2026 at 16:29 • 6 mins read
Steel is an iron alloy that contains a small amount of carbon. Steel products come in different grades based on the percentage of carbon they contain. The differing steel classes are categorized according to their respective carbon contents. Hot rolled steel grades are classified into the following carbon groups:
Small amounts of other alloying materials such as chromium, manganese or tungsten are also added to produce many more steel grades. Differing steel grades provide several unique properties such as tensile strength, ductility, malleability, durability, and thermal and electrical conductivity.
Most steel products are manufactured in two primary ways: hot
rolling or cold rolling. Hot rolled steel is mill process by which the
steel is roll pressed at a high temperature. Generally, the
temperature for hot rolled steel exceeds 1700°F. Cold rolled steel is
a process by which steel is roll pressed at room temperature.
It
is important to note that both hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel
are not steel grades. They are the pre-fabrication techniques used for
a variety of steel products.
Hot rolled steel involves forming and rolling the steel slabs
into a long strip while heated above its optimum rolling
temperature. The red-hot slab is fed through a series of roll mills
to form and stretch it into a thin strip. After forming is complete,
the steel strip is water-cooled and wound into a coil. Different
water-cooling rates develop other metallurgical properties in the
steel.
Normalizing hot rolled steel at room temperature
allows for increased strength and ductility.
Hot rolled
steel is typically used for construction, railroad tracks, sheet
metal, and other applications that do not require attractive
finishes or precise shapes and tolerances.
Cold rolled steel is heated and cooled just like hot rolled steel
but is then further processed using annealing or temper rolling to
develop higher tensile strength and yield strength. The additional
labor and time for processing adds to the cost but allows for closer
dimensional tolerances and provides a wide range of finishing options.
This form of steel has a smoother finish and is used in applications
requiring a specific surface condition and dimensional tolerance.
Common uses for cold rolled steel include structural parts, metal
furniture, home appliances, auto parts and technical applications
where precision or aesthetics is necessary.
Hot rolled steel is available in several grades to meet your
project specifications. The American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM) or the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) sets the standards
and grades according to each metal’s physical structure and
capabilities.
ASTM steel grades begin with the letter “A”
which stands for ferrous metals. The SAE grading system (also known as
the American Iron and Steel Institute or AISI system) uses a
four-digit number for classification. Plain carbon steel grades in
this system start with the digit 10, followed by two integers denoting
the carbon concentration.
The following are common grades of
hot rolled steel. Please note that some products are offered
in both hot and cold rolled options.
Hot rolled A36 steel is one of the most popular hot rolled steels available (it also comes in a cold rolled version, which is much less common). This low carbon steel maintains less than a 0.3% carbon content by weight, 1.03% manganese, 0.28% silicon, 0.2% copper, 0.04% phosphorus, and 0.05% sulfur. Common A36 steel industrial applications include:
Next to A36, AISI/SAE 1018 is one of the most common steel
grades. Typically, this grade is used in preference to A36 for bar
or strip forms. 1018 steel materials come in both hot rolled and
cold rolled versions, though the cold rolled is more commonly used.
Both versions have better strength and hardness than A36 and are
better suited for cold forming operations, such as bending or
swaging. 1018 contains only 0.18% carbon and 0.6-0.9% manganese,
which is less than A36. It also contains traces of phosphorous and
sulfur but fewer impurities than A36.
Typical 1018 steel
applications include:
1011 Hot rolled steel sheet and plate provide a rougher surface
than cold rolled steel and plate. When galvanized, it is also used in
applications where corrosion resistance is necessary. High strength
and highly formable HR steel sheet and plate are easy to drill, form
and weld. Hot rolled steel sheet and plate are available as standard
hot rolled or hot rolled P&O.
Some of the benefits
associated with 1011 hot rolled steel sheet and plate include
increased malleability, high rate of production, and lower when
compared to cold rolling. Applications include:
The ASTM A513 specification is for hot rolled carbon steel tubes.
Hot rolled steel tubes are manufactured by passing heated sheet metal
through rollers to achieve specific physical dimensions. The finished
product has a rough surface finish with radiused corners and either a
welded or seamless construction. Because of these factors, hot rolled
steel tube is best suited for applications that do not require precise
shapes or tight tolerances.
Hot rolled steel tube is easy to cut,
weld, form, and machine. It is used in numerous industrial
applications, including:
Hot rolled ASTM A786 steel is hot-rolled with high strength. It is commonly manufactured for steel tread plates for the following applications:
Ideal for construction and engineering applications, 1020/1025 DOM steel is commonly used for the following applications:
Industrial Metal Supply is an industry-leading premier supplier
of A36 and 1018 hot rolled steel products. We offer next-day delivery
and will-call pickup for convenient purchase options.
Call or
visit one of our 7 locations for more information regarding our hot
rolled steel products or request a quote for further pricing details today.