ABSTRACT
This chapter is devoted to an examination of the pertinent physical characteristics of various steels and changes that occur in these characteristics as the consequence of cold reduction. Iron alloys readily with a number of other elements to form a variety of irons, many of which are steels of considerable economic importance. It reacts with carbon to form various conventional steels, with silicon to form electrical steels, and with chromium, nickel, and other elements to form various stainless steels. Steel coils that are to be cold rolled have been subject to considerable prior deformation on hot strip mills. This hot processing, together with the subsequent pickling and oiling operations, can markedly affect the behavior of the steel during cold reduction as well as the properties and quality of the rolled product. For commercial purposes, iron is almost always alloyed with other elements to form steels.
