Stainless steel coils

General information about stainless steel coils

A distinction is made between hot-rolled or cold-rolled strip and hot-rolled or cold-rolled wide strip when stainless steel coils are wound into rolls. The former has a width of up to 600mm, whereas a width of over 600m is referred to as wide strip.

Stainless steel sheets cut from stainless steel coils benefit from the versatile material properties. Properties such as corrosion resistance and wear resistance have a positive effect on the longevity of the product. This in turn promotes the economic efficiency of stainless steel coils.

Production of stainless steel coils

In order to produce stainless steel coils, a stainless steel strip must first be produced. Hot rolling is the first step. The rolling process reduces previously heated slabs to the desired thickness. The entire length of the strip is then wound directly into a roll.

In the next step, the scale produced during hot rolling can be removed. For example, the strip can be pickled. Here the stainless steel strip is immersed in baths with hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. The last residues of the acid on the strip are neutralized with a base. This step is important because the acid would later lead to corrosion.

After removing the scale, the stainless steel coils can also be cold-rolled. The strip is further rolled at room temperature until the desired dimension is reached again. Cold rolling is used above all when higher dimensional accuracy and a smoother surface are required. In addition, the strength of the material also increases, which represents a further advantage for the product.

It is also possible to machine the surface of coils. A popular method for this is coil coating, also known as coil coating. Here, the stainless steel strip is continuously coated with a plastic film or lacquer. The popularity of this process results above all from the resource-saving use of materials and the high efficiency.

Where is stainless steel strip used?

Due to the numerous positive properties of stainless steel, such as good corrosion resistance, sheets cut from stainless steel strip can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are therefore used in a wide variety of applications:

• Automotive
• Chemical plant construction
• Food technology
• Medical and pharmaceutical technology
• Mechanical engineering
• Tool construction
• Production of household goods (e.g. for refrigerators)
• Construction