What do a gas tank, the tools a farmer uses, the railway that goes through Sierra Tarahumara, and the brake pads needed to stop the car you use to travel?
In each of these cases, same as many others, the hot rolled steel is present as raw material, an alloy of iron with carbon produced by Ternium, which is obtained through a thermomechanical process that involves the deformation of steel until it reaches the required dimensions and properties.
In its natural state, the hot rolled steel is a thin sheet, flat and rectangular, with the main qualities of resistance and low cost, making it a high-demand product, especially for applications that don’t require galvanized steel.
Its name comes from the dark and opaque coloration it has initially, although it can be later put through a painting process and acquire other tones and qualities. It must be said that the hot rolled steel doesn’t originally go through any reheat or tempering process.
The hot rolled steel is a thin sheet, flat and rectangular, with the main qualities of resistance and low cost, for applications that don’t require galvanized steel.
Resistance and versatility: the two main attributes
To improve its potential and applications, the hot rolled steel manufactured by Ternium can go through a later stripping treatment, which means cleaning oxide with chlorohydric acid and other substances. This results in very clean steel, with optimal conditions to receive a coat of paint or any other coating that adds other qualities, making it suitable for specific applications.
An example of this can be found in greenhouses, which is used a coated hot rolled steel after going through a cleaning and galvanized process.
For its versatility, the hot rolled steel has diverse uses in different industries, highlighting the automotive –and general transportation–, white goods, agriculture, and the construction sector. It can be used as the base to manufacture residential structures, as well as tubing, auto parts, any type of machinery, and even handrails.
It’s also important to note that this product has different versions, depending on the caliber (from 1 millimeter to 1 inch of thickness, with the new hot mill) and the steel grade. This way, we can talk about commercial steel, structural, high resistance, improved conformability, and die-cut, among others.
Ternium offers hot rolled steel in a wide dimensional range and grades to satisfy the specific needs of its clients.