Life of rolls in a cold rolling mill in a steel plant - operation versus manufacture

Failures of rolls occur due to improper manufacturing and operational param eters. Prematurely failed (spalled) roll samples collected from a reputed s teel plant were examined for their chemistry, inclusion content , microstru ctures, carbide characteristics, hardness and retained austenite content. T he residual stresses were also measured on the inner and outer surfaces of the spalled roll pieces. The higher content of retained austenite was prima rily responsible for the spalling of indigenous rolls for which subzero tre atment has been recommended. Several suggestions have also been made for sm ooth operation of the mill and consequently for the life extension of work rolls. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.