Papers by Author: Xiang Long Yu

Abstract: In hot rolling, metal oxides formed on steel surface can generally be classified as primary, secondary and tertiary oxide scales, corresponding to the reheating stages, the roughing stages and the finishing passes of continuous mills, respectively. The tertiary oxide scale grows into the final products on the hot-rolled steel strip during the finishing rolling and the subsequent cooling down to ambient temperature. We provide here a systematic overview of the oxidation mechanism, microstructure and microtexture development of the tertiary oxide scale. Mechanism of oxidation and Fe₃O₄ precipitation in tertiary oxide has been given as the fundamental theory. Three main sections has been divided in this review. The first section includes experimental investigations on microstructure evolution from the formation of oxide scale during hot rolling, then through continuous cooling, to Fe₃O₄ precipitation behaviour in storage cooling of hot-coiled strip. By using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to characterise both the steel substrate and the oxide scale concurrently, the second section has further dealed with the texture-based analysis of oxide scale: phase identification, orientation analysis and coincident site lattice (CSL) boundaries. The third section has provided the general type of crystallographic texture and its evolutions in deformed Fe₃O₄ and steel substrate. Finally, the upcoming challenges have been addressed in this intriguing and promising research field.

Abstract: The composition and phase transformation of oxide scale in cooling process (after hot rolling) of rolled microalloyed steels affect tribological features of rolled strip and downstream process, and the produced steel surface quality. In this study, physical simulation of surface roughness transfer during cooling process with consideration of ultra fast cooling (UFC) was carried out in Hille 100 experimental rolling mill, the obtained oxide scale was examined with SEM to show its surface and phase features. The results indicate that the surface roughness of the oxide scale increases as the final cooling (coiling) temperature increases, and the flow rate of the introduced air decreases. The cracking of the surface oxide scale can be improved when the cooling rate is 20 °C/s, the strip reduction is less than 12 %, and the thickness of oxide scale is less than 15 μm, independent of the surface roughness. A cooling rate of more than 70 °C/s can increase the formation of retained wustite and primary magnetite precipitates other than the precipitation of α-iron. This study is helpful in optimising the cooling process after hot rolling of microalloyed steels to obtain quality surface products.

Abstract: Oxidation characteristics of a microalloyed low carbon steel were investigated by a hot rolling mill combined with acceleration cooling system over the cooling rate range from 20 to 70°C/s. The effects of cooling rate after hot rolling on microstructure and phase composition of oxide scale were examined. The results showed that the increase of the cooling rate has a significant influence on the decrease of the grain size and surface roughness of oxide scale. A higher cooling rate promotes the formation of retain wustite and primary magnetite precipitation while suppression of eutectoid α-iron precipitates. This provides the possibility to enhance potential contribution of magnetite precipitates with preferable ductility, and hence fabricates a desired oxide-scale structure under continuous post cooling conditions considering a suitable cooling rate.

Abstract: Precipitation behavior of magnetite particles in the thermal grown oxide scale during isothermal cooling of microalloyed low carbon steel was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thin film X-ray. The oxide scale was generated from Gleeble 3500 Thermal Mechanical Simulator connected with a humid air generator, to simulate 550 and 450C isothermal treatments. Several types of magnetite precipitates were observed during different cooling processes with respect to the possible mechanisms of precipitation have been discussed. It is found that magnetite particles is as a result of pro-eutectoid precipitation from oxygen-rich wustite, and also as a product of the partial decomposition of wustite during the cooling process due to change of oxygen concentration and migration of iron ions. Furthermore, microalloyed elements in steel reduce the stability of wustite thereby facilitate the precipitation process, whose products of multi-phase oxide finally determine the adhesive strength of oxide scale and steel substrate.

Abstract: An experimental method was developed to study the adherence properties of the oxide scale formed on microalloyed low carbon steel after hot strip rolling. The evolution of the oxide scale during laminar cooling was investigated using Gleeble 3500 Thermal-Mechanical Simulator connected with a humid air generator. After the sample cooled down to ambient temperature, the oxide scale was protected by lacquer to prevent the scale from losing. Physicochemical characteristics of the oxide scale were examined and the adherence mechanism was discussed. Decomposed wustite a mixture of α-iron and magnetite (Fe₃O₄), can substantially improve the integrity of oxide scale. However, large quantities of hematite (Fe₂O₃) or retained wustite (FeO) were found detrimental to the adhesion of the oxide scale. It is found that the adherence of oxide scales significantly depends on the phase composition of oxide scales with different thickness.

Abstract: The influence of the coiling temperature, ranging from 550 to 570°C, on the morphology and the phase composition of the oxide scale formed on the microalloyed low carbon steel for automobiles after hot strip rolling was investigated. Physicochemical characteristics of the oxide scales were examined and their formation mechanism was discussed. Thickness of the oxide scale is in the range of 8-11µm and decreases with a decrease of coiling temperature. The microstructure and phase composition, XRD analysis shows a large amount of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and some sparse hematite (Fe₂O₃) exist on the surface of hot rolled strip when the coiling temperature reduces from 570 to 550°C. The coiling temperature substantially affects the internal microstructure and magnetite phase.

Abstract: Flatness imperfections are observed during uncoiling of the hot rolled strip after forced cooling of coils to ambient temperature. This problem is significant in thin strip as free defect was considered in the process. A mathematical model for heat transfer and thermal deformation analysis during cooling of hot rolled coils is developed to explain the phenomenon of post-rolling flatness deterioration, and predict the occurrence and magnitude of the defects. The numerical simulation results obtained in this work were experimentally validated. It is shown, at a low coiling temperature allowing the phase transformation to reach completion, that the axial distribution of the temperature mainly causes the variation of the local thermal stress, and will promote the flatness deterioration.

Abstract: Using finite element method (FEM), the results of bending conditions of the intermediate plate at the bending rolls of a coilbox between the roughing and finishing stands in a hot strip mill were obtained. The intermediate plate was coiled in a coilbox, which effectively overcame the problem of temperature drop by reducing surface area exposed to radiant heat loss during the waiting period. Different states of the plate in the coilbox were simulated by FEM, and the mathematical model of the bending rolls was established, which was in accord with the simulation results that the plate was coiled. As the bending shape of the front end of the intermediate plate is crucial to coiling process, the curvatures of the plate were predicted through FEM. In addition, the roll diameter and arrangement affect the optimum curvature, thus the parameters for bending rolls were determined without many adjustments. The developed bending model has been applied to actual coilbox in plant.

Abstract: A set of new mathematical models have been developed to calculate the temper rolling force of 2050 strip temper rolling mill. Based on the fact of small plastic deformation and elastic deformation occurring on the entry and exit of the deformation zone, new stress boundary conditions are described. The inhomogeneous distribution of internal stress in thickness direction is taken into account in the models, instead of uniform internal stress and assumption of plane strain traditionally. The new mathematical models have been applied into the temper rolling of 2050 hot rolling mills with good results. Comparison of calculated values and testing values for nine typical products has been given. The result shows that the calculated value of rolling force of temper mill is accurate.