What is Tor steel? Features, manufacturing process and more

 

The use of steel in construction and infrastructure depends on many factors. The kind of structure being built, weather conditions, and so on. However, some types of steel are widely used globally. TOR steel bars are one such popular material.

Do you know what TOR bars are and how they are manufactured? This article will explain what TOR steel is, its manufacturing process and the difference between TOR and TMT bars.

What is TOR steel?

Did you know the full form of TOR steel is just a brand name and not a generic product name? TOR stands for Toristeg Steel Corporation of Luxembourg, which is a European brand name. Cold Twisted Deformed (CTD) steel bars have become synonymous with TOR steel bars. Fundamentally, they are high-strength reinforced bars. Just like TMT bars, TOR or CTD bars are extensively used in construction. However, the manufacturing processes of the two are different.

How are TOR steel bars manufactured?

TOR steel is manufactured from mild steel with limited carbon content. This means that the initial process of making steel from iron ore remains the same. However, there is a difference between TOR steel and mild steel and they exhibit different features. This is mainly due to the difference in the manufacturing process. CTD or TOR steel bars undergo heat treatment and are later cold twisted at room temperature and deformed. The method of twisting increases the tensile strength of the bars. The deformation offers higher bonding capability with concrete.

Two types of TOR steel bars are popular in construction – Fe-415 and Fe-500. These are bars are available in different width options starting from 8 mm to 32mm.

Note: These are different from TMT bar grades also available in Fe 415 and Fe 500 grades.

Features of TOR steel bars

• Tensile strength: Although TOR steel bars are made from mild steel, they exhibit better tensile strength as compared to mild steel bars.
• High elasticity: TOR steel bars feature high elasticity. It is a result of the twisting of steel post elongation. However, it creates residual stress and leads to steel corrosion.
• Bonding properties for concrete: Deformation on the surface avoids slippage of concrete and as a result, increases the bond between the two materials.
• Durability: TOR steel offers stability and durability to the structure. However, now steel bars with better durability are also available in the market.

On the flip side, the manufacturing process of twisting creates residual stress among TOR steel bars, which leads to corrosion.

Pricing of TOR steel bars

Generally, TOR steel bars can be bought at around ₹60/kg.

Note: Steel prices fluctuate often and hence, it is best to check the price at the time of buying. If you are looking to buy steel online at the best price, Tata nexarc’s Procurement is the right place. You can post your requirement, evaluate quotes and get delivery at your doorstep.

TOR steel bars were extensively used in construction from the 1970s to the 1990s. However, after the introduction of TMT bars, they gained more popularity and now are widely used in construction and infrastructure projects.

Difference between TMT bars and TOR steel bars

TMT bars and TOR steel bars have various common features such as high bonding properties with concrete, strength, durability, etc., which make both ideal to use in construction. However, there are many differences too.

Here are some of the key differences between TMT bars and TOR steel bars.

Manufacturing process: TOR steel bars are manufactured with heat treatment followed by cold twisting deformation, which gives its technical name Cold Twisted Deformed (CTD). On the other hand, TMT bars are manufactured with heat treatment technology.

Steel consumption: TOR steel bars consume 20% more steel if compared with TMT bars. Meaning if the total consumption of steel in a particular project is TMT bars is 100 tonnes, in the case of TOR bars it would reach to 120 tonnes. It also means that the weight of required TOR steel is higher.

Durability: Although TOR steel is durable, its residual stress may cause corrosion over a period of time. On the other hand, TMT bars feature corrosion resistance capabilities and hence durability as compared with TOR steel bars.

Withstanding natural calamities: TMT bars can withstand natural calamities such as storms, earthquakes, etc., with greater ability thanTOR steel bars.

TMR bars are a superior choice compared with TOR steel bars. TMT bars is one of the innovations in steel technology. Before, the introduction of TMT bars, TOR steel bars were widely used in construction. However, it does not make TOR steel less important for construction.

What should you choose?

The role of steel is important in construction. What kind of steel you should choose depends on your project requirements. For example, TMT steel bars exhibit strength and better corrosion resistance as compared to TOR bars. As a result, TMT bars are preferred in large concrete structures, while TOR bars are mainly used for general purposes in construction such as roads buildings, etc.

Apart from steel bars, steel plates are also used in building and construction. Galvanised steel plates, mild steel plates, checkered steel plates, etc., are some of the popular types of plates used in construction.

In conclusion, it is important to determine project needs to before finalising on the type of steel. Also, fluctuating steel prices is one of the major concerns in steel procurement. As a result, it is important to have a procurement strategy in place. This would help you to save costs.