The purpose of steel rolling, like other press processes, is to obtain the desired shape, such as steel plates, strips, wire rods, and various steel sections; and to improve the internal quality of the steel. Common products such as automotive steel, bridge steel, boiler steel, pipeline steel, rebar, rebar, electrical silicon steel, galvanized sheet, tinplate, and even train wheels are all produced through the steel rolling process. To truly expand and strengthen the domestic steel rolling industry, continuous improvement must be made in a series of steps, including billet quality, heating, roll profile control, coiling capacity, and pickling.
Quality control is crucial in steel rolling production, and certain precautions must be kept in mind and strictly implemented to lay a solid foundation for safe and high-quality production. Steel rolling consists of four basic processes: billet preparation, billet heating, steel rolling, and finishing.
In the rolling process, quality requirements for rolled products include geometric and dimensional accuracy, internal structure and properties, and surface quality. Intelligent measuring instruments address geometric and dimensional accuracy issues. Once installed, they enable direct online testing with high accuracy, meeting production requirements. They provide real-time data, reducing lag, and can directly transmit test data to the control system, ensuring high-quality and efficient production. Commonly used instruments include intelligent diameter gauges, rebar diameter gauges, straightness gauges, length gauges, width gauges, laser thickness gauges, and edge length gauges. Surface quality inspection is performed using profilometers, primarily for comprehensive, high-frequency detection of surface defects, including scratches, roll misalignment, ears, cracks, bumps, pits, and many other types. Intelligent measuring instruments can be used for hot-rolled product inspection. Cooling and dust control systems and high-pressure blowers can be installed to remove scale, dust, and water mist from the inspection area, preventing obstruction.
Finishing operations typically include cutting or coiling steel, post-roll cooling, straightening, heat treatment of the finished product, surface cleaning, and various coating processes.
As steel oxidizes at high temperatures, a dense layer of iron oxide scale (phosphorus scale) forms on its surface. If this scale is not removed before rolling, it will be pressed into the strip by the rollers during the rolling process, affecting its surface quality. Residual scale not only accelerates roll wear but also reduces roll life.
Therefore, scale removal is essential before rolling the billet. Using the mechanical impact of high-pressure water to remove the scale (high-pressure water dephosphorization) is currently a common and effective method.
Steel rolling production emphasizes quality and efficiency. The integration of automated production lines with intelligent instruments and machinery ensures consistent high-quality production, provides scientific testing methods, and offers intelligent digital analysis systems for easier and safer operation.
