The present invention relates to a method for rolling a steel sheet and a method for manufacturing a steel sheet, capable of preventing defects in appearance of a steel sheet resulting from an oil spot of a coolant dropping on the surface of the steel sheet during rolling, and defects in shape of a steel sheet resulting from thermal deformation of work rolls.
The procedure of manufacturing a steel sheet involves rolling with various rolling mills. In each rolling mill, rolls that actually press steel sheets are referred to as work rolls. Some rolling mills feed a cooling fluid (hereinafter referred to as “a coolant”) to rolls forming each of the rolling mills to prevent temperature rise of the work rolls due to frictional heat caused during rolling of a steel sheet. However, an inappropriate amount of a coolant would cause a failure in controlling thermal deformation of the work rolls, and cause a defect in shape of the steel sheet.
The rolling mill that feeds a coolant is typically used in secondary cold rolling performed after cold rolling and annealing.
The temper rolling mill 1 sprays a coolant 3 on work rolls 2 during rolling to cool the work rolls 2. On the introduction side of the work rolls 2, rolling oil 6 is sprayed on the top and bottom surfaces of a steel sheet 4 to improve lubrication between the steel sheet 4 and the work rolls 2.
The coolant 3 is sprayed on the pair of upper and lower work rolls 2 through nozzles 5 disposed above and below the work rolls 2. After coming into contact with the work rolls 2, the sprayed coolant 3 is desirably drained in an atomized form. Insufficient draining of the coolant 3 may allow a liquid lump of the coolant 3 with a specific size to scatter and adhere to the top and bottom surfaces of the steel sheet 4 (such an adhering liquid lump is referred to as “an oil spot”, below). The liquid lump is mixed with the rolling oil 6 fed in the previous step and dried on the surfaces of the steel sheet, and causes a spotted appearance on the surface of the steel sheet.
Patent Literature 1 is known as an example of existing technologies for preventing defects in appearance of a steel sheet caused by oil spots of rolling oil.
PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 05-069027
An invention described in Patent Literature 1 aims to prevent occurrence of defects in the appearance of a steel sheet by preventing oil spots of rolling oil sprayed on the upper surface of the steel sheet from the lower surface of the steel sheet. The invention described in Patent Literature 1, however, has no reference to oil spots of a coolant. As described above, defects in appearance of a steel sheet are caused by a mixture of the rolling oil and the coolant forming puddles on the surface of the steel sheet, and drying of the puddles. Although preventing oil spots of the rolling oil, the invention of Patent Literature 1 fails to prevent formation of oil spots of a coolant, and thus can still cause defects in appearance of a steel sheet.
As illustrated in
Reducing the feeding rate of the coolant 3 to prevent oil spots of the coolant 3 impairs sufficient cooling of the work rolls 2, and fails to appropriately control deformation due to thermal expansion of the work rolls 2. Thus, simple reduction of the feeding rate of the coolant 3 would cause failure in shape of steel sheets due to failure in controlling thermal deformation of the work rolls 2.
Aspects of the present invention have been made in view of the above problems, and aim to provide a method for rolling a steel sheet and a method for manufacturing a steel sheet, capable of preventing defects in appearance of a steel sheet resulting from an oil spot of a coolant and defects in shape of a steel sheet by appropriately controlling thermal deformation of work rolls.
Aspects of the present invention are as follows.
According to aspects of the present invention, defects in appearance of a steel sheet can be prevented by resolving a coolant draining failure during rolling using a coolant, and thermal deformation of work rolls can be appropriately controlled to prevent occurrence of defects in shape of a steel sheet.
Aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to an example of a temper rolling mill illustrated in
A temper rolling mill 1 includes work rolls 2 that press a steel sheet 4, and back-up rolls 8 that mechanically support the work rolls 2. To improve lubrication between the steel sheet 4 and the work rolls 2 during rolling, rolling oil 6 is sprayed on the upper and lower surfaces of a steel sheet at the introduction side of the work rolls 2. Multiple nozzles 9 that spray the rolling oil 6 may be arranged in the width direction of the steel sheet to form a group of nozzles (not illustrated). The temper rolling mill 1 illustrated in
In the rolling process, the work rolls 2 are heated by the friction between the work rolls 2 and the steel sheet 4, and between the work rolls 2 and the back-up rolls 8. A coolant 3 illustrated in
The group of nozzles disposed above the steel sheet 4 is particularly more likely to cause oil spots of the coolant 3. Thus, a liquid drainer 7 is preferably provided for the group of nozzles to improve draining of the coolant 3. The liquid drainer 7 is disposed below the group of upper nozzles that spray the coolant 3, while forming a gap with such a size as not to touch the work rolls 2 between itself and the surfaces of the work rolls 2. The liquid drainer 7 extends in the direction along the roll axes of the work rolls 2. The liquid drainer 7 is disposed while leaving a small gap between itself and the work rolls 2 to prevent a liquid lump with a relatively large diameter resulting from a draining failure of the coolant 3 from directly falling on the upper surface of the steel sheet 4.
An introduction-side scattering preventive member 10 that prevents the rolling oil 6 from scattering or falling may be disposed at an upper portion on the introduction side of the work rolls 2.
A skin-pass rolling mill 11 that fixes the surface conditions of the steel sheet may be disposed subsequent to the temper rolling mill 1. As in the case of the temper rolling mill 1, the skin pass rolling mill 11 includes work rolls 12 and back-up rolls 18, and slightly presses the steel sheet 4. Bridle rolls 13 that adjust the tension of the steel sheet 4 may be disposed preceding and subsequent to the skin-pass rolling mill 1. To perform continuous rolling, loopers 14 that adjust the sheet feeding rate are disposed preceding the temper rolling mill 1. The loopers 14 adjust the sheet feeding rate to the temper rolling mill 1 by adjusting the residence time of the steel sheet 4.
A steel-sheet measuring device 15, such as a measurement roll, is preferably disposed subsequent to the temper rolling mill 1. The steel-sheet measuring device 15 may be any device capable of measuring, for example, the conditions of the steel sheet 4 at the exit side of the temper rolling mill 1 and the sheet feeding rate in the temper rolling mill 1. More specifically, the steel-sheet measuring device 15 may be capable of measuring, for example, the widthwise tension difference caused by the difference in length of the steel sheet 4 in the rolling direction. Distribution of the widthwise tension difference can be evaluated by the size of unevenness (shape or flatness) at the center portion or edges of the steel sheet 4 with parameters such as steepness or differential expansion rate. The center portion may be a portion near the center of the steel sheet 4 in the width direction, or more specifically, an area extending from the widthwise center line to both sides in the width direction (lateral direction) within a range of 5% of the sheet width of the steel sheet 4. The edges may be portions near the ends of the steel sheet 4, or more specifically, areas extending from edges of the steel sheet 4 in the width direction within a range of 5% of the sheet width of the steel sheet 4.
Data acquired by the steel-sheet measuring device 15 is output to an arithmetic unit 16. Although the details will be described later, the arithmetic unit 16 controls the feeding rate of the coolant 3 fed from the nozzles 5 in accordance with, for example, the sheet feeding rate of the steel sheet 4 or the amount of center buckles.
The amount of center buckles and the amount of edge waves are calculated using the size of unevenness at the center portion or edges of the steel sheet 4 and the length thereof in the rolling direction. Examples usable as the amount of center buckles and the amount of edge waves include profile steepness at the center portion and the edges of the steel sheet 4. A method for calculating profile steepness will be specifically described with reference to
λ=δ/L . . . (1), where λ denotes profile steepness (−), δ denotes a height difference (mm) of a wave cycle in the sheet thickness direction, and L denotes the wavelength (mm).
Although not illustrated, the profile steepness of the center buckles of the steel sheet 4 can be calculated in the same manner as formula (1). As to the center buckles, waves are formed at the center portion. The profile steepness at the center portion can be calculated by dividing the undulations of waves (specifically, height difference of the waves) at the center portion with a wave span (specifically, a wavelength).
Besides profile steepness, the amount of center buckles and the amount of edge waves may be any parameters that can evaluate the relationship between the wave height difference and the wave span at the center portion and edges of the steel sheet 4. Other examples of the amount of center buckles and the amount of edge waves include a differential expansion rate, indicating the ratio in differential expansion between the center portion and the edges, and the I-Unit, calculated by using the differential expansion rate.
Center buckles and edge waves of the steel sheet 4 are formed corresponding to thermal deformation of work rolls. Under a high temperature, work rolls are more likely to have a thermal crown shape, or a thick center portion in a sheet width direction and thin edges in the sheet width direction. When rolling is performed with work rolls with a thermal crown shape, the steel sheet is more likely to receive roll force at the center portion and less likely to receive roll force at the edges, and thus is more likely to have center buckles. Under a low temperature, on the other hand, work rolls are more likely to have a straight shape, with a small difference in thickness between the center portion and the edges in the sheet width direction. When rolling is performed with rolls with a straight shape, the steel sheet is more likely to receive roll force at the edges than when rolling is performed with rolls with a thermal crown shape, and thus is more likely to have edge waves.
Referring to
For example, the sheet feeding rate of the line is low until a predetermined time elapses (t1 in the drawing) from the start of operation (t0 in the drawing) of the rolling mill as illustrated in
The predetermined rate of coolant is smaller than an upper constant rate, which is an upper limit of the coolant feeding rate, and larger than a lower constant rate, which is a lower limit of the coolant feeding rate. The predetermined rate is preferably smaller than the upper constant rate by 10% or more. The predetermined rate of coolant is determined in consideration of operation conditions of various lines to prevent significant progress of thermal deformation of work rolls while reliably preventing oil spots of the coolant at the sheet feeding rate immediately after the start of operation of the rolling mill. More specifically, as illustrated in
Under the conditions with a low sheet feeding rate, the work rolls rotate at a lower speed. Thus, frictional heat generated on the surfaces of the work rolls is more likely to be small and the temperature on the surface of the work rolls is more likely to be low. Here, the work rolls are more likely to have a straight shape rather than a thermal crown shape. Thus, under the conditions with a low sheet feeding rate, the steel sheet is more likely to have a defective shape with the edge waves.
In an existing method as illustrated in
As the sheet feeding rate rises, the work rolls are further heated to have a thermal crown shape. The amount of center buckles of a steel sheet increases with formation of the thermal crown shape. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, when the amount of center buckles of the steel sheet reaches or exceeds a predetermined upper target value (time point t2 in
The amount of center buckles exceeding an upper limit is determined as being defective. The upper target value set in accordance with aspects of the present invention is lower than the upper limit used for determination of a defective product. The amount of center buckles is peaked immediately after the increase of the coolant feeding rate, and then switched to decrease. The upper target value may be set so that the peak is lower than the upper limit.
As described above, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, the coolant feeding rate is increased in accordance with the amount of center buckles of a steel sheet. This structure can prevent occurrence of defective products with an excessive amount of center buckles caused by a delay of supply of a coolant after the increase of the sheet feeding rate.
When the sheet feeding rate is increased to allow the amount of center buckles of the steel sheet to reach or exceed the upper target value, the rolls improve the draining capability. This structure thus prevents occurrence of oil spots even when the coolant feeding rate is increased.
When the amount of center buckles of the steel sheet reaches or exceeds the upper target value, the coolant feeding rate increases to the upper constant rate. After the coolant feeding rate reaches the upper constant rate, the coolant feeding rate is kept at the upper constant rate unless the sheet feeding rate of the line varies significantly. The upper constant rate may be any rate at which the work rolls are kept in thermal equilibrium when the sheet feeding rate of the line reaches the constant rate (peak value). When the work rolls are kept in thermal equilibrium, thermal deformation of the work rolls can be prevented, and thus further deformation of the work rolls into a thermal crown shape or a straight shape can be prevented. While the work rolls are in thermal equilibrium, the amount of center buckles and the amount of edge waves of the steel sheet are stable without large fluctuations.
In the example illustrated in
When the rolling mill finishes the operation while keeping the sheet feeding rate of the line at the peak value (or while keeping the sheet feeding rate at the same rate as the furnace speed of the furnace), it is sufficient to control the coolant feeding rate to rise to the upper constant rate, as described above. On the other hand, when the sheet feeding rate is decreased further from the peak value (or the furnace speed of the furnace) while the rolling mill is in operation, the coolant feeding rate is controlled to decrease. For example, when continuous rolling is performed while welding multiple coils together, the sheet feeding rate of the steel sheet decreases after elapse of predetermined time from around the peak value (time point t6 in
When the sheet feeding rate decreases as above, the work rolls are excessively cooled at the initial period of decreasing the sheet feeding rate (between t6 and t7 in
The amount of center buckles falling below a predetermined lower limit causes edge wave defects, and is thus determined as defective. The lower target value set in accordance with aspects of the present invention is higher than the lower limit used for the determination of defects. The lower target value is set so that the bottom peak of the amount of center buckles after the decrease of the coolant is higher than the lower limit (in other words, so as not to produce defective products having center buckles).
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the coolant feeding rate is decreased in accordance with the decrease of the amount of center buckles. This structure can prevent the work rolls from being excessively cooled at the decrease of the sheet feeding rate, quickly having a straight shape, and causing excessive edge waves on a steel sheet. As illustrated in
Thereafter, the coolant feeding rate is kept at the lower constant rate. When the sheet feeding rate is decreased by, for example, feeding to-be-welded portions, the sheet feeding rate is kept at the bottom value for a predetermined time period (between t8 and t9 in the drawing). When the sheet feeding rate is kept at the bottom value, the lower constant rate may be any rate at which the work rolls are kept in thermal equilibrium.
Subsequently, after the completion of, for example, feeding of to-be-welded portions, the sheet feeding rate is switched upward toward the peak value again. Also in this case, as in the above case, the coolant feeding rate may be increased to the upper constant rate when the amount of center buckles reaches or exceeds the upper target value.
The coolant feeding rate is controlled by the arithmetic unit 16 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Examples usable as a coolant include a water solution and a mixture of a water solution and oil.
A method for rolling a steel sheet according to aspects of the present invention is particularly preferably applied to the secondary cold rolling. In cold rolling, after a hot coil is rolled by a tandem cold rolling mill, the hot coil is annealed by batch annealing or continuous annealing. The secondary cold rolling is performed on an annealed steel sheet. In the secondary cold rolling, the steel sheet is slightly pressed to, for example, adjust the surface conditions.
In the secondary cold rolling, multiple coils are continuously fed while being welded, so that the sheet feeding rate intermittently increases or decreases. A plurality of temper rolling mills may be used for different uses to perform rolling in accordance with, for example, the conditions or quality of products. In this case, each temper rolling mill needs to be activated every time the temper rolling mill is switched, and thus the sheet feeding rate is low immediately after the activation. Thus, the method for rolling a steel sheet according to aspects of the present invention is applied to the secondary cold rolling to reliably prevent defective shapes of a steel sheet and appearance defects due to the oil spots of a coolant even when the sheet feeding rate frequently increases or decreases in response to continuous feeding of multiple coils while welding the multiple coils or when the sheet feeding rate is low immediately after the activation of the rolling mill.
A steel sheet subjected to the secondary cold rolling is then subjected to surface treatment such as plating or lamination to form final products. A final product is determined as defective product when more appearance defects due to oil spots than a predetermined number per unit length is observed in a coil or when the ratio of portions of a product with an excessive amount of edge waves and an excessive amount of center buckles is larger than a predetermined ratio. Manufacturing a steel sheet with a rolling method according to aspects of the present invention enables acquirement of final products of the steel sheet at a high yield.
In an actual cold rolling line, a method for rolling a steel sheet according to aspects of the present invention was used for a temper rolling mill (structure similar to that illustrated in
With the example of the present invention, a steel sheet had fewer portions with defective shapes, and had a yield of 99% with no appearance defects. In contrast, with a comparative example, a steel sheet had a ratio in length of a portion determined as having appearance defects due to oil spots of 3%, a ratio in length of a portion determined as having defective shapes due to edge waves of 1%, and a yield of 96%.
1 temper rolling mill
2, 12 work roll
3 coolant
4 steel sheet
5, 9 nozzle
6 rolling oil
7 liquid drainer
8, 18 back-up roll
10 introduction-side scattering preventive member
11 skin pass rolling mill
13 bridle roll
14 looper
15 steel-sheet measuring device
16 arithmetic unit
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019-015726 | Jan 2019 | JP | national |
This is the U.S. National Phase application of PCT/JP2019/051229, filed Dec. 26, 2019 which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-015726, filed Jan. 31, 2019, the disclosures of these applications being incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2019/051229 | 12/26/2019 | WO | 00 |