Developments of work roll bite lubrication at SSAB Tunnplåt AB hot strip mill

In the strip rolling process friction is needed at first to pull the strip into the roll gap, otherwise slipping occurs. After the neutral plane however, where the velocity of the work roll equals the velocity of the strip, the friction stress alters direction to the opposite. If the friction stress after the neutral plane then is lowered, the total roll force will decrease. This can be done by a properly applicated oil‐ and water dispersion close to the work roll gap and between the roll cooling wipers. The technique and the key to a successful lubrication is a work roll surface which is as dry as possible. If the roll surface is not dry, neither large changes in the oil concentration, nor changes in the oil composition can make the lubricant stick to the roll surface. The lubricate was partly washed away by the water and only a small roll force decrease could therefore be measured. Only when the roll cooling water on the entry side of the work roll was set off on purpose, the roll force decrease was significant. Due to this result, further test were performed in an upstream stand in the hot strip mill. Here, the work roll wipers were modified and the roll was substituted by one with a larger radius and lubricated. The result was very slight or no water leakage at all. The roll force decrease was then much greater than before and close to those measured for the same reduction in the case of no entry water for the later stand. The electrical current in main drives and the roll wear in the lubricated stand could also be lowered significantly. In addition, the strip surface was greatly improved, under conditions with a high possibility of oxide residual contamination from the roll surface.