Sheets

How are sheets produced?

Sheets are produced by hot rolling and, if necessary, subsequent cold rolling.

For hot rolling, a cast steel ingot, also known as a slab, is heated. The material becomes formable due to the heat. Rolling reduces the thickness of the sheet and also stretches it to the required width. Several repetitions may be required to transform the slab into sheet with the desired dimensions. The product of this operation is called hot strip.

Since hot rolling cannot produce arbitrarily thin material, cold rolling at room temperature can follow, depending on the requirements for the thickness and properties of the material. This process can produce particularly thin and dimensionally accurate sheets. Cold forming also increases the strength of steel sheets. Cold-rolled steel sheets are basically free of scale and have a clean, uniform surface.

If hot-rolled steel sheet is not descaled, the surface turns dark due to a reaction with the air. The material is then also called black plate.

Where are sheets used?

Sheets are universally applicable. They are used mainly in the following areas:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Vehicle construction and technology
• Ship construction
• Bridge construction
• Pipeline construction
• Steel construction
• Household appliance construction