Manufacture, quality grades and applications for flat steel
The production of flat steel or steel coils begins with the smelting of iron ore in a blast furnace, where it is processed into pig iron. This pig iron is then refined to obtain a specific grade of steel. In a further step, the steel is fed into a continuous casting process, where it is cast into a long, rectangular shape and cooled to form a slab. The slab is heated to high temperatures in a hot rolling mill and rolled to the desired thickness before finally being rolled up into coils.
The quality grades of flat steel are diverse and are usually based on DIN standards such as DIN EN 10025 for structural steels. These standards classify steel according to various attributes such as strength, melting point, corrosion resistance and formability. The preferred quality grades include S355JR (classic structural steel according to DIN 10025), DC01 (cold-rolled unalloyed steel according to DIN EN 10.130) and DD11 (hot-rolled unalloyed steel according to DIN EN 10.111). These grades offer processing companies a good balance between strength, workability and cost.
Flat steel is used in numerous industries. Good examples are:
- Construction: Steel in accordance with DIN EN 10025 is often used to reinforce concrete or as a fundamental component of steel girders.
- Automotive industry: Due to its strength and flexibility, this steel is a popular material for car body parts and vehicle frames.
- Mechanical engineering: The steel product is used for various parts of machines and equipment, including cladding and housings.
