Welding is a key component of the process of fabrication, and whether it’s across bridges, buildings, machinery, or industrial sheds, welding is what holds the project together. However, there is one thing that warring fabricators can agree upon, and that is not all sheets are easy to weld.
Contractors and welders often ask, “Why do HR sheets give us greater trouble than CR sheets?” The answer lies in how the material is composed, how the product is made, and its surface qualities.
This blog will explore why Hot-rolled sheets (especially SAIL HR sheets) are harder to weld than CR sheets, the problems faced by fabricators when welding HR sheets vs. CR sheets, and, most importantly, provide valuable and practical solutions to ensure you achieve consistency every time you weld.
Understanding HR and CR Sheets – The Basics
What Are HR Sheets?
Hot Rolled sheets are created by passing steel through rollers at very high heat, more than 1700°F or 927°C, which shapes it into sheets. Temperatures greater than 1700°F make the steel more pliable and allow for larger steel sheets.
- They are widely applied in structural projects such as bridges, railway components, building frameworks, and large-scale fabrication.
- SAIL HR sheets have gained a relatively more trusted reputation in India due to the consistent quality and variety in thickness of their HR sheets.
What Are CR Sheets?
Cold-rolled (CR) sheets are produced by rolling steel at room temperature, which results in the following properties:
- A smoother finish.
- Tighter dimensional tolerance.
- Higher strength due to strain hardening.
CR sheets find wide application in the automotive sector, home appliances, precision engineering, and decorative components.
Key Differences Between HR and CR Sheets
A condensed comparison to illustrate the differences, as welded HR sheets and CR sheets contain different properties.
Property | HR Sheets | CR Sheets |
Process | Rolled at elevated temperature | Rolled at room temperature |
Surface Finish | Rough, with oxide scale | Smooth, polished finish |
Strength | Moderate | More strength |
Dimensional Accuracy | Less exact | More exact |
Applications | Structural and heavier fabrication | Automotive, precision jobs |
Why Are HR Sheets Harder to Weld Than CR Sheets?
Surface Scale and Contaminants
HR sheets are hot rolled, and thus, these HR sheets have oxidized scales on the surface due to the heat of rolling. These contaminants can cause interference with the welding arc, resulting in weaker welds unless the surface is cleaned.
Lower Dimensions Consistency
As hot-rolled sheets do not have the same thickness control as CR sheets, welders will oftentimes experience variation in weld penetration and bead consistency.
Higher Residual Stress
Because hot rolling can create major residual stress in the HR sheet, this residual stress can cause distortion and warping, or cracking, when welded.
Ductility vs Brittleness
HR sheets exhibit different levels of ductility and hardness from CR sheets, which causes them to behave less uniformly under the heat of welding.
Common Welding Challenges Fabricators Face with HR Sheets
- Inconsistent Weld Beads: Variable thickness results in inconsistent beads.
- Increased Porosity: Oxide layers trap gases in the weld, leading to porosity.
- Extra Spatter: Since hot rolled sheets carry surface impurities, welders usually notice higher spatter levels.
- Distortion and Warpage: Heat interacts with any residual stresses.
- Need for Stronger Filler: To achieve a strong joint, fabricators often need premium electrodes or filler wires.
Practical Solutions for Welding HR Sheets Effectively
So how do you mitigate these challenges? There are some tested approaches:
Proper Surface Preparation
You should always, without exception, remove oxide scales before welding. There are numerous ways to form metal surfaces, but grinding, wire brushing, or machining are the preferred methods to remove oxide before welding. Clean oxidized metal welds better.
Preheating Types
Preheating these sheets will invariably depend on the thickness of materials, but the thinner the Sheets, the greater the advantage, in helping to control cracking risk and stress in the welds that preheat will deliver.
Potential Electrodes and Fillers
Use filler metals that are equivalent to the SAIL HR sheets’ grade. Obviously, low-hydrogen electrodes will always be better to minimize the chance of cracking.
Control Welding Measurements
- Clarity in the arc length.
- Electric current (Amperage) and volts (Voltage) measurements.
- Ensure proper selection of shielding gas for any MIG/TIG welding.
Post-Weld Treatment
Stress-relieving techniques, finishing processes, post-weld heat treatment processes, etc., all help to enhance the durability of the welds and alleviate distortion.
Why Fabricators Prefer SAIL HR Sheets for Welding Projects
Though these sheets are typically not easy to weld, but fabricators choose SAIL HR sheets because of their:
Consistent Chemical Composition: Manufactured with stringent quality and consistently controlled facilities, quality can be determined with predictable welding qualities.
Better Weldability: SAIL HR sheets are better to weld than many other hot-rolled sheets, which would be more challenging to weld due to the constituent material being less homogeneous than SAIL sheets.
Availability of Thicknesses: From thin sheets to heavy plates in different applications.
Certifications and Test Report: Sheets will be supplied with Mill Test Certificates (MTCs).
Conclusion – Welding SAIL HR Sheets with Confidence
Welding Hot Rolled sheets may be more challenging than welding CR sheets, primarily due to surface scales, residual stresses, and inferior dimensional accuracy. Yet, with a conscientious approach to preparation, cleaning, preheating, and the correct use of fillers, fabricators can still achieve quality and durable welds.
For this reason, many fabricators prefer SAIL HR sheets. SAIL’s reputation for quality and consistency gives fabricators the confidence they need to make a sound investment in their structures and fabrication projects.
In search of genuine SAIL HR sheets in Chennai or anywhere in Tamil Nadu? Reach out to Bharat Steel Chennai, your trusted supplier, for rates, certified quality, and delivery timelines you can rely on.
FAQs on Welding HR Sheets vs CR Sheets
Q1: Are Hot rolled sheets stronger than CR sheets?
No. CR sheets usually have higher strength due to strain hardening.
Q2: Can CR sheets replace HR sheets in structural work?
Not always. CR sheets are better for precision, while hot-rolled sheets (like SAIL HR sheets) are essential for heavy structural applications.
Q3: What grade of electrode works best for SAIL HR sheets?
Low-hydrogen electrodes are typically recommended.
Q4: Which is cheaper: HR or CR sheets?
Hot rolled sheets are usually cheaper, making them more popular for large-scale structural projects.