Cold rolling increases the yield strength and hardness of a metal by introducing defects into the metal's crystal structure. This increase in strength comes at the cost of finishing needs.
While this material is generally inexpensive, the need for plating and finishing will incur additional costs to the project. Careful evaluation may show that using stainless steel may be a more cost effective option for the project.
Incodema’s Engineering Notes for working with Cold Rolled Steel (CRS):
• HSLA CRS
• Automotive Engineered Material
• Will need finishing
• HRS CRS
• Low end material
• Does not form well
• Fabricating material