Warmgewalste

Warmgewalste, in English commonly referred to as warm-rolled, describes metal products produced by a rolling process conducted at elevated temperatures that are above ambient but below the material’s recrystallization temperature. In practice, warm rolling sits between hot rolling and cold rolling, offering a compromise of properties and processing requirements. The exact temperature range depends on the alloy, but it is generally lower than hot-rolling temperatures and higher than room temperature.

The process involves heating the stock—such as slabs, billets, bars, or sheets—to the target temperature, then passing it through rollers to achieve the desired thickness and shape. Finishing passes may follow to approximate final dimensions. Because the material is heated but not fully recrystallized, warm-rolled products can exhibit different microstructures, residual stresses, and surface characteristics compared with hot-rolled or cold-rolled material.

Compared with hot-rolled products, warm-rolled materials typically offer better dimensional control and surface quality while still maintaining relatively straightforward processing. Compared with cold-rolled products, they tend to be easier to form and require less energy, but they do not achieve the same level of strength and surface finish as cold-rolled finishes. Overall, warm-rolled products provide a middle ground in strength, hardness, ductility, and surface finish.

Applications include structural components, sections, plates, and sheets where a balance of mechanical properties, manufacturability, and cost is desired. Materials commonly processed as warm-rolled products include steel, aluminum, and various copper alloys. The term and its exact meaning can vary by region and standards, and the designation may be used differently in specific industries.