How To Choose The Right Steel Sheet For Your Project? Check Out These Tips

December 14,

While setting up a construction project, it is important to choose the right building materials. And for every construction, steel is the most attractive option. It is a versatile, durable, affordable and sustainable metal and can be recycled. Steel dealers in India greatly benefit from this metal due to its high demand.

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Choosing the right steel sheet can appear to be a very difficult process. To start with, an individual must look for the components that are required for the construction. The steel sheet is very flexible and can be cut, designed and given shape as per anything. This makes it the most likeable metal to be used in industries.

Choosing the right steel sheet from steel dealers in India

Apparently, steel sheet is used in several industries, starting with the airplane industry, building material, holding tanks, railroad cars, automobile industry, etc. There are different types of steel sheets, starting with Mild steel sheets and HR sheets. The HR sheet suppliers and MS sheet suppliers are highly benefitted due to the affordability and flexibility of the metal. It can withstand high temperatures and inclement weather.

But, how can one choose the right steel sheet from steel dealers in India? Here are some ways that can help an individual choose the right sheet.

1. Strength: Individuals must always choose HR sheets depending upon the HR sheets grades. Further, the tensile strength of the metal is defined by the amount of force that the structure can take without snapping. For projects that require a significant amount of force, steel sheets are a must.

2. Weldability: Different metals have a different levels of weldability. While some can be wielded faster, others can take a longer time to wield. Thus, it is important to buy a metal that can be wielded easily and does not require extra time and expertise which in turn will increase the budget and the timing.

3. Machinability: This defines the steel's ability to be cut into the required shape using a blade. Buying a good quality steel sheet from HR sheet suppliers ensures that the quality of the product is not compromised. Less machinable steel will require more tools for cutting which in turn will again increase the budgeting of the project. The product should be efficient enough so that it can function properly in construction.

4. Ductility: One of the most important factors in choosing the right steel sheet is by checking its ductility. For higher HR sheet grades, the ductility will be more. It determines what and how the steel can take shape. Also, steel that has low ductility cannot be easily turned into a wire or bent easily without snapping. The formation of a steel sheet will depend on the requirement of the project. For rigid objects, the steel sheets have to be much thicker while for the ones that contain curves, the sheets can be thinner. Even the temperature and the weather where the project is to be set up will also determine the width of the steel sheet.

Different products used in Sheet Metal Fabrication

Different types of steel are available at steel dealers in India that can be used in Sheet metal fabrication. Every sheet has pros and cons, but how much the product has benefitted shall only be visible after the formation of the project. Here is a list of the different materials that contribute to sheet metal fabrication.

• Stainless steel: This material contains 10.5% of chromium and can offer hardness, be corrosion resistant and shine. The different grades of stainless steel that can offer sheet metal fabrication include Austenitic, Ferritic and Martensitic.

• Cold rolled steel: This material takes into working the hot rolled steel so that the product can receive a smooth finish.

• High-carbon steel: This material contains 0.6%- 2.5% of carbon which makes it the most durable and affordable metal.

• Low-carbon steel: Having a low content of carbon makes it perfect for fabricating and welding. This material contains 0.2% of carbon.

• Tool steel: For fabrication, this material can be really hard. Thus, products like punches, hammers, etc can be best made from this metal.

• Alloy steel: This material contains a lot of other elements like nickel and vanadium which contribute to the strength of the steel.

By using these different materials for sheet metal fabrication, one can easily manufacture any type of project. One can even get expert advice from steel suppliers regarding the selection of the ideal material for the required application.

The sheet metal used in your sheet meetal fabrication includes a very broad list of possible materials. Making the best choice for your products includes decisions about the type of metal, its thickness, and a choice of form. What you choose should be based on your overall expectations, desired end product, and recommendations from your sheet metal fabricator contractor manufacturing services

Sheet metal is made from a variety of metals that each have their own unique properties and offer unique benefits. A list of the most common sheet metal materials used for fabrication have been summarized below.

Hot rolled steel is produced when steel is processed by a series of roll presses at temperatures over °F. The process creates a steel that is easily formed or shaped into large pieces and is best used where tolerances aren't as important.

Q235 and Q355 are 16 Mn steel grade with good formability and weldability properties. It's commonly used for structural applications and parts for a variety of industries. Q355 offers better performance at low temperatures and offers better steel strength.

SAPH440 is commonly used for automotive frames, wheels, and other parts. It has very good tensile strength making it a good choice for load bearing or structural uses.

Advantages:

• Good flexibility making it ideal for structural components
• Well suited to high production runs
• Suitable for a variety of shapes and forms
• Cooling process hardens and normalizes the material which prevents any internal stresses
• Lower cost than cold rolled steel
• Good mechanical performance in terms of toughness

Disadvantages

• Surface isrougher than cold rolled steel and can have imperfections
• Looser tolerances than cold rolled steel
• Require surface finishing to avoid corrosion
• Available only in thicknesses over 3mm (0.12 inches)
• Less formability than cold rolled steel
• Material mechanical performance fluctuate across a single sheet / batch
• Unstable spring back during CNC bending

Commonly used for:

• Rail tracks, hopper cars, components
• Construction including i-beams, metal buildings, doors, shelving
• Vehicle frames, agricultural equipment
• Water heaters, pipes, tubes
• Cross-sections
• Sheet metal

Cold rolled steel (CRS) is essentially hot rolled steel that has gone through an additional rolling process at room temperature.

This additional processing produces a steel with closer tolerances and a broader range of finishes. The result is an increase in strength by as much as 20% compared to hot rolled steel. SPCC is commonly used for automotive parts and some construction applications. SPCC can be used for galvanized products, appliances, containers, and other products.

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Advantages:

• Harder and stronger than hot rolled steel
• Good for tight tolerances, creating shapes that are square with true edges and corners
• Allows for precise dimensions
• High quality smooth surface and finish
• Easier to process than hot rolled steel with less spring back during bending
• Stable mechanical performance across multiple batches
• High formability

Disadvantages:

• Additional steps required after production to prevent corrosion
• Higher cost than hot rolled steel
• Cold rolled steel can be more expensive than hot rolled steel
• Only available up to 3 mm (0.12 inches) thick

Commonly used for:

• Machine and automotive parts
• Metal furniture, desks, cabinets
• Home appliances
• Lighting fixtures
• Construction products
• Steel drums, cabinetry, water heaters
• Strips, bars, and rods

The category of spring steel includes several high yield strength steels including low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel, or high-carbon steel. They are primarily used to manufacture springs as the steel will return to its original shape after twisting or load bearing.

A carbon steel can be used for small springs, but large springs are best when an alloy is used. High carbon spring steel is a common choice, inexpensive, and easily processed. It is not suited to extreme temperatures or for shock/ impact loads. Alloy spring steel are well suited to shock or impact loads or conditions with high stress. Stainless spring steel can be used in some forms at extremely high temperatures (288°C) and are corrosion resistant. 65Mn is a high carbon with manganese to improve hardenability. It has good wear resistance and good workability.

Advantages

• High yield strength, resistingdistortion when twisted or compressed
• Products can withstand continuous twisting, compression etc and return to original shape
• Good hardness, elasticity, and hardenability

Disadvantages

• Some metals can have issues when overheated including brittleness
• Requires tempering after heating and quenching to relieve material stresses
• Not all are well suited to welding
• Difficult to form in hardened and tempered state

Commonly used for:

• Valve springs
• Clutch springs, brake springs
• Grinder spindles
• Coil springs, leaf springs, and s-tines
• Piano wire, guitar strings, precision tool wires
• Washers
• Lock picks
• Antennas, scrapers
• Blades

Aluminum is a pure metal that is easily alloyed with small amounts of other materials like copper, manganese, silicone, or magnesium. It is not magnetic or combustible and is a good conductor of electricity. Aluminum offers good corrosion resistance and is generally easy to form and process. It comes in several different grades and is often used because of its weight. It weighs about 1/3 of other materials like iron, steel, copper, and brass. It conducts heat well and is non-toxic making it a good choice in a variety of applications.

AL is a wrought alloy with high electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and workability but somewhat low mechanical strength. It's commonly used in electrical and chemical industries. AL is most often used for architectural applications or trimming. It has high tensile properties and offers good finish options. It also offers high corrosion resistance and is a good option for anodized applications. AL is the most flexible heat-treated alloy with excellent workability. It's well suited to most processes and has good corrosion resistance. AL is the highest strength non-heat-treated aluminum alloy and offers very good fatigue resistance. Highly workable, AL can be formed into complex shapes and offers good saltwater corrosion resistance.

Advantages

• Corrosion resistant and generally offers a maintenance-free finish
• Much lighter weight than alternatives like iron, steel, copper, and brass
• Great heat conductivity
• Nontoxic so it's suitable for food exposure and other specialized applications
• Non-combustible and reflective so often used for lighting
• Good formability, workability, weldability and machineability

Disadvantages

• More expensive than steel
• Steel is a better option where strength is a primary concern and weight isn't an issue
• Some alloys are less corrosion resistant than a stainless steel option
• Can affect taste of food so it's less common for food or cooking applications

Commonly used for:

• Window frames
• Aircraft and automotive parts
• Kitchenware
• Food packaging
• Lighting
• Electrical products
• Machinery and equipment

Stainless steel includes a variety of sheet metals which contain at least 10.5% chromium. There are many different grades available, offering corrosion resistant and a commercially familiar appearance. Standard or austenitic stainless steel (300 series steels) is very common and does not require heat during the manufacturing process. They offer good corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability.

SS301 has high work hardening and is commonly used for trailer bodies and fasteners. SS304 has low carbon, is an economical grade but is not seawater resistant. SS316 has higher molybdenum content that improves its resistance to seawater corrosion. A lower carbon version (SS316L) is available for better corrosion resistance after welding.

Advantages

• Chromium content creates a corrosion resistant finish
• Good combination of strength and hardness
• Available in a variety of widths, thickness, and hardness levels
• Can be used for hot or cold treatments/ processes
• Suitable for a variety of processing techniques including spinning, brazing, polishing, buffing
• Weldable and suitable for soldering or riveting processes
• Very machinable
• Recyclable

Disadvantages

• Can have corrosion at thick welding points
• Possible chipping during processing
• Tends to be more expensive
• Shows dirt and smudges easily and sometimes difficult to clean
• May require polishing and finishing

Commonly used for:

• Construction products like roofing, cladding, building structures, doors and windows
• Food processing equipment, cookware, and appliances
• Cooking utensils, kitchen sinks
• Vehicles including subways, cars airplanes
• Fuel and chemical containers

Cold galvanized steel has a zinc coating painted to the steel surface to protect it from corrosion. The coating will provide both a barrier protection and a galvanic protection to help extend the life of the product. It can be applied with brushes, rollers, sprayers, or through electro galvanizing. The paint includes special binders so it will mechanically bond to the steel. SGCCis a galvanized steel with good weldability and formability. It can have a pure zinc coating or have a Zn/Fe alloy coating.

Advantages

• Protection in corrosive environments with a barrier and potentially cathodic protection for the steel
• Surfaces are generally easy to clean
• Low maintenance and good life expectancy for finished product
• Cost effective, fast application process
• Better than hot-dipped galvanization for small parts and components
• Can topcoat without any additional preparation

Disasdvantages

• Surface of the steel must be clean and dry before application. This requires an extra step but is less demanding than hot-dipped applications
• Doesn't offer as good durability, abrasion resistance, or cathodic protection as hot-dipped galvanizing
• Physical damage can compromise the coating and result in corrosion
• Surface can include spangles

Commonly used for:

• Roofing, shutters, and other covers
• Equipment bodies

The yield strength of a metal is the point at which applied stress will cause it to deform and not return to its original shape. It provides an indication of a metal's elasticity and the maximum force you can apply to it before it will permanently deform, buckle, or even fail. Processes like annealing can impact the yield strength of some materials.

• High yield strength metals: spring steel, cold galvanized steel, cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, titanium, stainless steel, aluminum alloys
• Low yield strength metals: copper, brass, some aluminum alloys

Tensile strength refers to ability of a metal to resist force. Higher tensile strength requires more force to snap it for example. If the product you're producing doesn't need to bear any load, then a metal with less tensile strength might be the best choice. Keep in mind that how you form the sheet metal can impact its strength and the load it can bear.

• High tensile strength metals: spring steel, hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, cold galvanized steel, stainless steel, titanium
• Low tensile strength metals: aluminum

The material you choose should take into consideration the environment it will be exposed to. Some metals respond better than others to factors like water, oxidation, or other elements it will be exposed to. Some metals, like stainless steel, won't corrode but they can develop an oxide film. Also keep in mind that galvanic corrosion can occur when to dissimilar metals are in contact with each other.

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• Less corrosion resistant metals: cold-rolled carbon steel
• More corrosion resistant metals: copper, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, tin