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CRCA steel is commonly used for industrial purposes owing to its strength, flexibility and affordability. It has several applications in various industries and is also used to make home appliances and lab furniture.
What is CRCA steel?
CRCA stands for “Cold Rolled Close Annealed”. This means that hot rolled steel is put through a series of cold rolling machines to reduce thickness and then annealed in a closed atmosphere of nitrogen or other non-oxidising gases.
Manufacturing process
Given below are the steps involved in the manufacture of CRCA steel:
Step 1: Steel ingots are hot rolled but passing them through hot rolling machines
Step 2: Ingots are pressed down by the machines to form thick steel sheets
Step 3: Hot rolled sheets are cooled off to room temperature
Step 4: Sheets are then passed through strong rollers to compress them into very thin sheets of desired thickness
Step 5: Sheets are then collected into rolls (or steel coils)
Step 6: Rolls of cold-rolled steel are put into a bell furnace and cooked for usually 2-3 days at around 700°C. The bell furnace is sealed preventing air entry and filled with any non-oxidising gas like nitrogen.
Step 7: Once cooking is complete, steel is taken out and cooled over a long period by controlling the temperature.
This completes the process of manufacture of CRCA steel. However, in many factories the steel is oiled before putting it in the warehouse.
When cold rolling machine compresses the hot rolled steel, any irregularities and tensions in the hot rolled steel get compressed as well. This means that the cold rolled sheet will be very strong, but hard and brittle, which renders it unusable.
This is why cold rolled steel is annealed. The annealing process softens the steel increasing its ductility. The process also makes the sheets stronger and more durable.
Features
Given below are the features of CRCA steel:
- Strength
CRCA steel possesses excellent strength and is an ideal material for construction and manufacturing industries.
- Formability
The annealing process contributes to the formability of the steel. It can be cut, bent, and shaped without affecting its mechanical and physical characteristics.
- Durable
Industries prefer using CRCA steel because it is highly durable and long-lasting. It is equipped with high resistance against heavy wear and tear. This makes it ideal for industries where machinery and equipment are constantly exposed to harsh environments.
- Affordable
CRCA steel is relatively cost-effective compared to other industrial metals such as stainless steel or aluminium.
Uses and applications
Given below are a few applications of CRCA steel:
- Engineering and Fabrication
- Automobiles
- Electrical appliances
- Telecommunications equipment
- IT hardware
- Home appliances
- Furniture
- Aerospace equipment
- Drums and barrels
CRCA steel prices
The current market price range for CRCA steel sheet is given below:
| Price range per ton | Percentage of products in the price range |
| ₹40500 – 43000 | 28% |
| ₹43000 – 46000 | 22% |
| ₹46000 – 50000 | 28% |
| ₹50000 – 53000 | 22% |
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Also read: Carbon steel: High and low carbon steel content, grades, properties
