Cold heading steels
For over one hundred years, cold heading steels (CHS), also known as cold-drawn steels or cold extrusion steels, have been a staple material for the engineering and construction industries. Characterized by superior durability, machinability and weldability, CHS comes in a variety of grades from standard carbon to martensite and boron steels. Cold heading steels are widely used in many different industries, from the manufacture of simple fasteners to complex machined parts for the aerospace and auto industries.
The manufacturing of CHS begins with combining raw steel with an appropriate alloy content. The type of alloy and its content depend on the grade and application. The alloy content can include elements such as carbon, nickel, manganese, silicon, chromium, and molybdenum. The steel is then hot rolled and reduced in size to the desired specification. This reduces the strengths of the steel, making it easier and cheaper to shape into fasteners and other parts.
After rolling, the steel is cold drawn and cut into lengths depending on their diameter. The steel is then hardened, annealed and tempered. During hardening, a rapid cooling process is applied to increase the hardness and strength of the steel. The steel is heated to austenize it, and then quickly quenched in oil or air. The annealing and tempering processes contribute to further improvements in the properties of the steel.
Finally, the steel is rolled and cut into the required shapes. This is done with a combination of cold heading machines and precision cutting. The processes ensure the highest degrees of quality and dimensional accuracy. Special attention is given to the surface finish, paying particular attention to the edges of the fasteners and other components, prior to assembly.
Today, CHS is a vital part of many products and industries. The use of advanced steel processing techniques ensures that the resulting material has superior strength and toughness, as well as superior fatigue and corrosion resistance. From the manufacture of construction fasteners to complex machined components, cold heading steels are essential for many engineering applications.
