Exploring IS 513 CR2 cold rolled steel's versatility

Cold rolled mild steel sheet is a popular material used in various industries, including construction, automotive, and manufacturing. Cold rolled steel finish involves passing the steel through a series of rollers at room temperature, reducing its thickness and enhancing its mechanical properties. One type of cold rolled steel that is gaining popularity is IS 513 CR2. This blog will discuss IS 513 CR2 cold rolled steel and its applications. Eager to receive exclusive updates about industrial materials? Register now!

What is IS 513 CR2 Cold Rolled Steel?

IS 513 CR2 is a cold rolled low-carbon steel sheet and strip conforming to the Indian Standard specification. This is assigned by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

It is a high-quality steel known for its excellent formability, weldability, and surface finish. IS 513 CR2 is produced by cold rolling a hot-rolled pickled coil to the desired thickness, followed by annealing and tempering moving to achieve the selected mechanical properties. Annealing helps relieve internal stresses that may have developed during manufacturing processes. While in tempering, the material is heated to a specific temperature, often above its critical temperature.

The "CR2" designation of cold rolled mild steel sheet indicates that this steel possesses improved formability and is well-suited for drawing and deep drawing applications. Deep drawing is a manufacturing process that forms sheet metal into complex, three-dimensional shapes with a depth greater than the material thickness. This process is particularly common in producing cylindrical or box-like structures, such as kitchen sinks, beverage cans, automobile parts, and various containers. 

Chemical composition:

Carbon (C): 0.12% (maximum)
Impact: Carbon content primarily influences the hardness and strength of steel.
Effect on Quality: Higher carbon content generally increases hardness and strength but may reduce ductility and weldability.

Manganese (Mn): 0.48% (maximum)
Impact: Manganese enhances the strength and hardenability of steel.
Effect on Quality: It is often used as a deoxidizer and desulphuriser, improving hot-working properties and ensuring a more consistent grain structure.
 

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Silicon (Si): 0.40% (maximum)
Impact: Silicon is used as a deoxidizer and improves steel's strength.
Effect on Quality: It enhances the fluidity of molten steel during casting and helps remove impurities.

Sulphur (S): 0.035% (maximum)
Impact: Sulphur is considered an impurity and is generally undesirable in steel.
Effect on Quality: Higher sulfur content can lead to hot shortness (brittleness at elevated temperatures) and less weldability.

Phosphorus (P): 0.035% (maximum)
Impact: Phosphorus can increase strength and hardness but may reduce ductility.
Effect on Quality: Like sulfur, high phosphorus content can affect toughness and weldability.

Mechanical properties

Yield strength - 240 MPa
Tensile Strength - 370 MPa

Here are some of its key features and applications

Excellent Formability: IS 513 CR2 cold rolled steel online has excellent formability, making it suitable for deep drawing, bending, and other forming operations. 
It is commonly used in the automotive industry to produce body panels, fenders, and other components that require complex shapes.

Good Weldability: IS 513 CR2 cold rolled steel online has good weldability, making it suitable for welding and other joining operations
Various general engineering applications benefit from cold-rolled steel like the production of pipes, tubes, and other structural elements where strength and dimensional accuracy are crucial.

Smooth Surface Finish: The IS 513 CR2 cold rolled steel finish has a smooth surface, making it suitable for applications that require a high-quality surface finish
It is commonly used in manufacturing to produce consumer goods such as appliances, furniture, and electronics.

High Strength: The IS 513 CR2 cold rolled mild steel sheet has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it suitable for applications that require high strength and durability
Cold-rolled steel is often chosen for metal stamping and fabrication processes due to its ability to maintain tight tolerances and precise dimensions.

The specific applications can vary based on the unique properties of IS 513 CR2, and it's essential to consider factors such as strength, formability, and surface finish when selecting materials for a particular use. Engineers and manufacturers typically choose materials based on the specific requirements of their applications to ensure optimal performance and longevity.