Mechanisms of sticking phenomenon occurring during hot rolling of two ferritic stainless steels

Abstract

Mechanisms of sticking phenomenon occurring during hot rolling of two ferritic stainless steels, STS 430J1L and STS 436L, were investigated in the present study. A hot-rolling simulation test was carried out using a high-temperature wear tester capable of controlling rolling speed, load, and temperature. The test results at 900 degrees C and 1000 degrees C revealed that the sticking process proceeded with three stages, i.e., nucleation, growth, and saturation, for the both stainless steels, and that STS 430J1L had a smaller number of sticking nucleation sites and slower growth rate than the STS 436L because of higher high-temperature hardness, thereby leading to less serious sticking. When the test was conducted at 1070 degrees C, the sticking hardly occurred in both stainless steels as Fe-Cr oxide layers were formed on the surface of the rolled materials. Thus, in order to prevent or minimize the sticking, it was suggested to improve high-temperature properties of stainless steels in the case of hot rolling at 900 degrees C to 1000 degrees C, and to establish appropriate rolling conditions and alloy compositions for ready formation of oxide layers in the case of hot rolling at higher temperatures than 1000 degrees C.