Article ID: ISIJINT-2025-124
In the cold sheet rolling process of steel, the deformation of the steel sheet and friction between the roll and steel sheet lead to the generation of iron fines. When steel is mass produced, the generation of iron fines can cause pollution. When the base oil is hydrolyzed under catalysis by iron fines and heat, hydrolyzed products, such as fatty acids, can react with iron fines to form iron soap, which is the major component of scum. The generation of scum decreases the emulsion stability of the rolling oil coolant, and its accumulation inside the cold rolling mill causes dirt. Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that affect the generation of iron fines.
In this study, experiments were conducted to compare the generation of iron fines under different rolling and lubricant conditions in an experimental rolling mill. The amount of iron fines generated increased with the number of rolling passes at the same reduction in thickness. However, after considering the increase in the rolling distance, the amount of iron fines generated per unit rolling length was similar. The amount of iron fines generated increased as the surface roughness of roll increased, emulsion concentration increased, emulsion temperature decreased and base oil viscosity increased. The results show that the rolling and lubricant conditions can be changed to establish an evaluation method to develop a new rolling oil for achieving low generation of iron fines and good surface cleanliness after cold rolling.
