What is the Difference Between Cold-rolled Aluminum Sheet and Hot-rolled Aluminum Sheet

As we all know, aluminum plates can be divided into cold-rolled aluminum plates and hot-rolled aluminum plates according to different production processes. So, what is the difference between cold-rolled aluminum plates and hot-rolled aluminum plates, and where are the specific differences? Many newcomers to the industry want to know. Below, we will provide a specific analysis from six aspects: price, billet supply, production process, performance, use, and finished products:

1、 Different prices

The reproduction process of cold-rolled aluminum sheets is simpler than hot-rolled aluminum sheets, and the natural production cost is lower than hot-rolled aluminum sheets. Therefore, the selling price of cold-rolled aluminum sheets in the market is cheaper than hot-rolled aluminum sheets.

2、 Blank supply

The difference between the two lies in the different supply of raw materials. Hot rolled material: aluminum ingot – melted and cast into flat ingot – milled surface – homogenized annealing – hot-rolled into plate and strip. Cast and rolled material: aluminum ingot – melted – rolled into plate and strip through a casting mill. Compared to hot-rolled materials, cast and rolled materials have higher production efficiency, but defects such as component segregation and inclusions are not easy to solve, and the quality is not as good as hot-rolled materials.

3、 Production process

Cold rolling is achieved by processing cast coils (8mm thickness) with a cold rolling machine, while hot rolling is achieved by heating aluminum ingots (400-500mm thickness) and rolling them with a hot rolling machine at high temperatures.

4、 Product performance

The surface quality of hot-rolled aluminum sheet is better than that of cold-rolled aluminum sheet, and the mechanical and ductility properties are stronger. In addition, the deep drawing and oxidation effects are also inferior to cold-rolled aluminum sheet.

5、 Product Usage

Cold rolled aluminum sheets are mostly used for molds, while hot-rolled aluminum sheets are suitable for stamping and stretching.