Common Hot-Rolled Steel Defects You Shouldn’t Ignore

Steel rolling refers to the pressure processing process of changing the shape of steel ingots or steel billets between rotating rolling mills. It can be divided into hot rolling and cold rolling.

Hot rolling requires heating the raw material to 1100-1250 ℃ and implementing high-temperature rolling production.

Hot-rolled steel strips are a typical production process of hot rolling.

Currently, the control technology for hot-rolled steel strips is mature, the instrument configuration is advanced, and the product quality is relatively stable, with high production line operating rates.

However, due to the complexity of the rolling process, the operation of each process and the equipment status can affect product quality, leading to defects in the final product.

Common Hot-Rolled Steel Defects

I. Pressed-in Oxide Scale

1. Defect Characteristics

Pressed-in oxide scale is a surface defect formed by the compression of oxide scale into the surface of the steel strip during hot rolling. Depending on its cause, it can be divided into furnace-generated (primary) oxide scale, rolling-generated (secondary) oxide scale, or oxide scale from the roll surface that comes off and is compressed into the steel strip (secondary).

2. Causes

①Severe longitudinal cracks on the surface of the steel billet;

②Improper heating process or heating operation of the steel billet, making it difficult to remove primary scale;

③Low pressure in the high-pressure descaling water or nozzle blockage during the rolling process, resulting in the production of oxide scale being compressed into the steel strip surface;

④Too fast rolling pace or poor cooling of the rolls, causing the oxide film on the roll surface to peel off and be compressed into the steel strip surface.

3. Hazards

It affects the surface quality of the steel strip and the coating effect.

4. Prevention and Elimination Methods

①Strengthen the quality inspection of the steel billet. Billets with severe longitudinal cracks on the surface should be cleaned and qualified before use;

②Develop a reasonable heating process for the steel billet, and heat it according to the specifications;

③Regularly check the equipment of the high-pressure descaling water system to ensure descaling water pressure and avoid nozzle blockage;

④Reasonably control the rolling pace, ensure the cooling effect of the rolls, and prevent the oxide film on the roll surface from peeling off.

II. Scar

1. Defect Characteristics

Scar is an irregularly shaped, raised metal sheet attached to the surface of the steel strip, showing leaf-like, feather-like, bar-like, fish-scale-like, tongue-end-like, etc.

There are two types of scars: one is connected to the body of the steel and folds onto the surface of the plate, not easy to fall off; the other is not connected to the body of the steel but is bonded to the surface of the plate and is easy to fall off, forming a relatively smooth pit after falling off.

2. Causes

①The original scar or heavy skin defect on the surface of the billet was not cleaned up and remained on the surface of the steel strip after rolling;

②Residues of flame cleaning on the surface of the billet, which were pressed into the surface of the steel strip during rolling.

3. Hazards

It can lead to metal peeling or holes during subsequent processing and use.

4. Prevention and Elimination Methods

Strengthen the quality inspection of the billet, and clean up any scars or residues of flame cleaning on the surface of the billet before rolling.

III. Blisters

1. Defect Characteristics

Blisters are circular or elliptical bulges on the surface of the steel strip that are irregularly distributed. Their outer edge is relatively smooth. After the blisters are crushed, the steel strip surface may have cracks or flaking.

Some blisters do not protrude and have a shiny surface after being flattened, and the cut surface shows a layered structure.

2. Causes

①Too much gas is accumulated inside the billet due to poor deoxidation or improper nitrogen blowing;

②The billet has been in the furnace for a long time, and the subcutaneous bubbles are exposed and accumulate.

3. Hazards

It may cause layering or poor welding during subsequent processing and use.

4. Prevention and Elimination Methods

①Strengthen the quality inspection of the billet and avoid using billets with exposed bubble defects;

②Strictly follow the specifications to heat the billet and avoid keeping the billet in the furnace for too long.

IV. Rolling Crush

1. Defect Characteristics

The phenomenon of multiple layers overlapping or rolling, piercing, tearing, etc. on the surface of the steel strip is called rolling crush.

2. Causes

①Improper adjustment of roll clearance or poor matching between roll shape and incoming billet shape, resulting in uneven extension of the steel strip;

②Uneven local heating temperature of the billet or uneven temperature of the rolled piece;

③The setting of the opening degree of the finishing side guide plate is unreasonable;

④The flow rate during precision rolling is mismatched.

3. Hazards

The steel plate with rolling crush defects cannot be used due to the interruption of the rolling process.

4. Prevention and Elimination Methods

①Configure roll shapes reasonably and pay attention to roll clearance adjustment;

②Strengthen the control of billet heating temperature and ensure uniform temperature of the rolled piece;

③Reasonably set the opening degree of the finishing side guide plate;

④Maintain consistent flow rate during continuous rolling.

V. Roll Mark

1. Defect Characteristics

Roll marks are concave-convex defects with irregular shapes that are periodically distributed on the surface of the steel strip.

2. Causes

Rolls are cracked, have localized spalling, or have foreign objects adhered to their surface, resulting in a concave-convex surface on the roll, which is pressed into the surface of the steel strip during rolling or finishing processing, forming concave-convex defects.

3. Hazards

Convex roll marks may cause folding defects during subsequent rolling processes, while concave roll marks may cause holes during subsequent rolling processes.

4. Prevention and Elimination Methods

①Regularly inspect the surface quality of the rolls, and deal with rolls with spalling or foreign objects in a timely manner;

②During the rolling process, check the surface quality of the rolls in time when abnormal situations such as steel jamming, tail throwing, and rolling crush occur, and prevent roll surface damage or foreign object adhesion;

③Immediately stop the machine to check the surface quality of the rolls when roll marks are found.

VI. Flattening

1. Defect Characteristics

The phenomenon of steel coils appearing oval-shaped is called flattening.

2. Causes

①The steel coil is subjected to excessive impact during handling;

②The tension of the steel coil during coiling is too low, and the coils are stacked horizontally or with multiple layers.

3. Hazards

It affects the packaging and handling of steel coils, and severely flattened coils cannot be used.

4. Prevention and Elimination Methods

①Handle steel coils carefully;

②Reasonably set the coiling tension, control the number of layers of horizontal stacking, and use vertical stacking if necessary.