Characteristics of cold-formed profiles
Steel is one of those metals that can take on any form and serve us in a great many industries. One way of transforming it is through cold-formed steel profiles, which are widely used. However, many people are still not entirely sure what cold-formed sections are characterised by, what forms they come in, and where we can use them. So, let's explore today what distinguishes sections created through cold processing.
Cold-formed sections
Cold-formed profiles can be divided into types based on the materials used and their final shape after processing. Let's start with the basic division, i.e., based on material. Here we can distinguish steel and galvanised profiles. Both of these are characterised by durability and resistance to crushing, stretching, or cutting. However, galvanised profiles have a layer of zinc on their surface. This mineral perfectly protects against the development of corrosion, meaning that this type of profile can be used where aesthetics are as important as functionality. The second way to divide cold-formed profiles into types is by their shape. In this case, there are as many as six different profiles. Among them, we can mention:
- settlers,
- teowniki,
- Brackets,
- angles,
- ceowns
- Profile closed.
This is related to the shape of cold-formed profiles. For example, „Z-sections” have a Z-shape in their cross-section, „C-sections” have a C-shape, and so on. Closed profiles, on the other hand, are rectangular in form.
Cold-formed sections processing
Cold-formed sections, also known as cold-rolled sections, are distinguished by their production method, which does not involve high temperatures. This requires significantly greater force and precision from production machinery. In return, however, they possess improved properties such as lightness, durability, strength, and rigidity. This is because the density of the steel increases, consequently enhancing durability and reducing steel plasticity. It is thanks to these improvements that these sections have such wide applications.
Application
Cold-formed sections are widely used in many fields. Depending on their shape, they can be used for creating and stabilising steel structures, for the production of industrial machinery, for erecting posts, and in construction, among other things. It is worth noting, however, that cold-formed sections are not only used by large construction companies or industrial plants, but also prove useful in everyday applications. Examples include fence posts made from closed profiles and partition walls made from plasterboard. The sections then form the framework upon which we can build the wall. In summary, cold-formed steel profiles are a material characterised by exceptional resistance to crushing or tensile forces, without which it is difficult to imagine construction sites, production plants, or steel structures today. Furthermore, they are increasingly serving private individuals too, who use them for building fences or during renovation work.
