![[Pasted image 20231125234042.png]] ## Continuous caster Liquid steel is brought to the continuous caster in a ladle. In the caster, the still liquid steel passes through a mould and then through a sequence of ‘segments’, during which its vertical path out of the ladle and the mould gradually becomes horizontal, as it cools. It then emerges as a continuous slab of steel, solid now but still red hot. The continuous slab is then cut to length into semi-finished products known as blooms, billets or slabs. ## Hot rolling Semi-finished products are re-heated to 1,200°C. This is above steel’s recrystallisation temperature, making it easier to form, but less suitable for precision applications like car bodies. Before it is rolled, scale is removed and the steel is cooled. During the flat steel hot rolling process, the steel thickness can be reduced from 22-1.25mm. The first stage of creating long products such as sections, tubes, wires and rods consists of rolling to create rods that range in width from 5-20mm. ## Cold rolling Steel needs to go through the cold rolling process when products with more precise dimensions and better surface characteristics are needed. There is a huge variety of such products, including steel for car body panels, electric motor components and beverage cans. Additionally during the cold rolling process the steel is ‘pickled’ in heated acid to remove the scale that forms during hot rolling, and treated to give it specific structural or strength qualities.