Engineering and fabrication

What is the highest temperature used in steel fabrication?. At what temperature the steel cools down?

How long does it take to cool down?. is there any specifications for it?. where can I find them?

Public Comments

1. If by steel fab you mean making steel, it varies by furnace method used. In steel production there are six major furnaces; basic oxygen, electric, open hearth, vacuum, crucible, and induction. Each has its own paramiters for heat. the melting temp is between 2462 and 2786 degrees F, depending on the alloys. When cooling the steel, enough time needs to be left for the steel tochange from a liquid to solid, have the atoms align, and then release excess heat. When steel is first made, this process can take up to 24 hours. If by steel fab you mean cutting and welding, the melting temps stay the same, but the cooling time decreses tremendously. If a weld or cut is made on steel, the steel will harded within two seconds, and will cool to room temp within 2 hours if left in cool air, or can be cooled using water almost immediately.


2. If by steel fabrication you mean fabrication then it is still the melting point of steel

   however one must be very careful when letting the steel cool down because if it cools too quickly then residual stresse will form

   The Canadian Code for steel design is S-16-01



3. The melting point of steel depends on the alloy of the steel it is usually around 1370 degrees C (2500°F). In steel fabrication the most demanding proceedure as far as temperature requirements would be smelting (melting) or thermal cutting methods such as an Oxygen - Acetylene Torch.

   Steel will begin to cool down as soon as you remove the heat source it will continue to cool until it matches the ambient (or room) temperature.

   The cooling time depends on two main things

   A) what you cool it with? so if you allow the steel to cool in the air alone it will take longer then if you were to cool it with water or oil. Also some tempering proceedures require that it cools as slowly as possible which means it may be left in a kiln (or a furnace) and the temperature of the kiln will gradually be decreased or lowered until the steel is completely cool this method can take many days if that is what is required.

   B) How large the steel is a small piece can air cool in a matter of seconds however when steel is first manufactured it is poured into large ingots that can take an entire day to cool completely.