PRODUCTION OF PURE NICKEL STRIP BY THE DIRECT-ROLLING PROCESS

Abstract

Results are presented of an investigation into the production of pure nickel strip, 6 in. wide × 0·030 in. thick, from carbonyl-nickel powder, using compacting rolls 7 ? in. in dia., arranged in a horizontal plane. Special reference is made to the factors affecting the quality and output of green strip: roll-gap dimensions, the head of powder above the roll gap, rolling speed, and raw-material properties. It is shown that for a given compacting mill, the thickness of green strip that can be produced is strictly limited and that it becomes progressively more difficult to achieve the limiting thickness with increase in rolling speed. A method of reducing the detrimental effect of high rolling speeds is described.

The continuous sintering and subsequent processing of directly rolled strip, using conventional cold-rolling and annealing plant, are then considered, and the properties of fully processed material are compared with those of strip produced from melted and cast carbonyl-nickel pellet. It is concluded that the direct-rolling process is capable of producing on a commercial basis nickel strip having properties which compare favourably with those of conventionally produced material.     

THE ROLLING OF COPPER STRIP FROM HYDROGEN-REDUCED AND OTHER POWDERS

Abstract

Copper powders were rolled to form strip in a normal two-high mill. Satisfactory green strip was obtained from the low-density powder produced by hydrogen reduction from aqueous solution, provided that a mechanical method was used to feed the powder into the rolls. All the types of powder investigated required considerable further rolling after compaction, with at least two heat-treatments, to produce normal mechanical properties.     

Bearing Materials by Powder Metallurgy

Abstract

The dependence of green strength on green density and on compacting pressure was investigated for the bidirectional die pressed and isostatically pressed Cu powder compacts. The breaking strength of the pressed Cu compact was found to increase with green density and also with compacting pressure. The green strength seemed to be directly proportional to the contact area between powder particles. A theoretical equation for the relationship between green density and contact area was derived from a geometrical consideration, and agreed well with experimental findings. PM/0272     

Sintering and tribological properties of lead-free bronze alloy for friction materials

Abstract

A lead-free bronze alloy powder with a dispersed sulphide solid lubricant phase has been produced by atomisation as a substitute for lead bronze friction materials. The powder has been processed to produce a bronze/steel bimetal strip by a sinter/roll/sinter process route, via both solid state and liquid phase sintering. Friction properties of the developed materials and a sintered bronze were compared in pin-on-disc tests; the Cu–Sn–S material shows excellent properties, equivalent to those of a lead bronze, and is being assessed for use in high pressure bushes.     

Development and application of roll contour configuration in temper rolling mill for hot rolled thin gauge steel strip

Abstract

In order to improve the flatness of hot rolled thin gauge steel strip, a new type of roll contour configuration was developed for a four-high temper rolling mill based on the finite element method analysis. The roll contour configuration consists of a variable contact back-up roll contour and a positive crown work roll contour. Both can be described as sixth order polynomial functions. The variable contact back-up roll not only reduces the roll stack deflection and contact stress concentration between work and back-up rolls, but also increases the control capability of the bending force of the work roll. Positive crown work roll contour is utilised to compensate roll wear and in turn the length of temper rolling schedule can be prolonged. After this roll contour configuration was applied on the temper rolling mill of Qiangang Company of Shougang Group, the flatness of hot rolled thin gauge strip was improved by 10% and the working efficiency was also increased as the length of temper rolling schedule was increased.     

THE COMPACTION OF METAL POWDERS BY ROLLING. I.—THE PROPERTIES OF STRIP ROLLED FROM COPPER POWDERS

Abstract

The investigation described is an extension of earlier work (“Symposium on Powder Metallurgy 1954”, p. 131. 1956: London (Iron and Steel Institute), and Sheet Metal Ind., 1955, 32, 589) which described the effect of rolling pressure and sintering conditions on the mechanical properties of strip rolled from copper powders. The directional variation of U.T.S. and of elongation of sintered strip are shown to be the same as those of solid copper with a similar microstructure, at least for material with up to 16% porosity. The shape of powder particles and the particle-size distribution have a marked effect on the strength of sintered strip by virtue of their effect on the shape and size of the pores in the sintered material. Measurements of electrical resistance reveal a linear relationship between conductivity and porosity over wide ranges of porosity in both “green” and sintered strip. The conductivity increases rapidly during the first few minutes of sintering at 1000° C. Measurements of the resistance in the rolling direction and in the transverse direction, which are independent of local variations in density, have been made on green sheet; the resistance in the rolling direction is the higher. A correlation between this result and the mode of particle deformation is proposed, and is elaborated in Part II of this paper.     

SOME MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS OF PLANT FOR THE ROLL-COMPACTING PROCESS

Abstract

The paper is based on a survey of recent literature on the art of roll compacting made for the purpose of producing criteria for use in the design of processing plant. After a definition of the duty required of such plant has been given, the type of mill necessary is discussed, and the various systems used for dispensing powder are considered in relation to the operational requirements. The process of roll compacting and the resulting strip conditions are discussed in relation to the variables in physical dimensions of plant and product. Certain criteria applying to the roll-compacting process are mentioned, and the wide variation in strip speeds employed by different investigators is noted. It is considered that roll loads as given by some investigators may be higher than those actually obtaining in practice, and some explanation of this claim is given. Finally, brief reference is made to the lubrication of the rolls or the powder during the compacting process and to subsequent processes including sintering, densification, and cold rolling.     

Effects of Mg addition on foam stability of Al foams made by powder metallurgy route

Abstract

Al foams were produced by applying a powder metallurgy route. Foam expansion, cell structures and foam stability of foamed samples were investigated. The results show that larger expansion and more homogeneous cell structures were achieved due to the presence of 1·0 wt-%Mg addition. Mg addition results in the formation of spinel particles through the reaction between Mg powder and alumina on Al powder. Spinel particles show good wetting with Al melt and are fully embedded into Plateau borders and cell walls. The liquid is tightly trapped within cell walls and Plateau borders in the presence of spinel particles, preventing cell walls from thinning further and improving foam stability significantly.     

THE COMPACTION OF METAL POWDERS BY ROLLING. II.–AN EXAMINATION OF THE COMPACTION PROCESS

Abstract

The compaction process is examined in detail. It is shown that, where particle deformation is concerned, compaction by rolling is similar to compaction by static pressing, with the addition of elongation of the particles in the rolling direction when the rolling pressure is sufficiently high. A method for determining the average roll pressure is described. A comparison of the rolling of a metal powder with the rolling of a solid bar, and the determination of the effect of particle shape and mean size, indicates that not only roll/powder friction but also the slip between particles plays an important role in the compaction process. This leads to an examination of the flow properties of powders, which are measured in terms of a “powder-viscosity factor” that indicates whether and at what order of rolling speed a powder can be coherently compacted. Finally, a mechanism of compaction is proposed on the basis of the present findings and on the authors’ earlier work.     

Development of laboratory scale thin strip caster and investigation of direct casting of AISI 304 stainless steel

Abstract

An unequal diameter (1 : 3), two roll thin strip casting machine has been designed and fabricated for investigation of the direct casting of thin strip on a laboratory scale. The system consists of a preheatable shallow tundish with online heating facility, water cooled rotating rolls (chill and auxiliary) for solidification of the liquid metal, and a stripper assembly. The machine has a variable speed. Roll gap setting and roll pressure adjustment are two important features of the machine. It is also possible to vary the placement angle of the auxiliary roll with respect to the chill roll. A heat transfer model was developed, based on experimental casting results. Experiments were conducted using AISI 304 grade stainless steel. Up to 100 kg of steel was cast without interruption into strips of widths 100 and 200 mm and thickness varying between 1 and 2 mm. Some of the process parameters affecting the quality of the strip were identified.     

Modelling recalescence after stock reduction during hot strip rolling

Abstract

The relationships between stock recalescence time/distance and process variables, such as exit thickness, reduction, rolling speed, work roll diameter and slab–roll heat transfer coefficient during hot strip rolling, have been established. The behaviour of the temperature gradient was analysed and used to estimate the slab and transfer bar mean temperatures from measured surface temperature in three hot strip mills located in northeast México. It was found that the recalescence critical variables, in order of importance in minimising temperature measurement variation, are slab–roll heat transfer coefficient, reduction, exit thickness and roll speed.     

VCR back-up roll and negative work roll contour design for solving roll spalling and transfer bar profile problems in hot strip mill

Abstract

During the first year of production in the 2250 mm hot strip mill of Qian'an Iron and Steel Company of Shougang Steel Corporation, roll spalling and broken rolls were frequent occurrences, especially on the second stand of roughing mill (R2), and resulted in enormous economic losses. In addition, improvements to strip shape were required. One of the factors resulting in strip shape defects after finish rolling is that the transfer bar usually had an unsound profile such as a large wedge, camber or negative crown after roughing rolling. To solve these problems, a variable contact back-up roll contour curve with six order of polynomials and negative crown contour was designed and applied to the back-up roll and work roll of roughing mill stands R1 and R2 instead of a conventional flat roll contour. After the application, roll spalling, crown and wedge quality of the transfer bar and strip quality all improved.     

THE PROPERTIES OF POROUS NICKEL PRODUCED BY PRESSING AND SINTERING

Abstract

The effects of compacting pressure and of sintering temperature and time on the properties of porous sintered nickel compacts have been studied, using three carbonyl and two reduced nickel powders. For all five powders, the density of the green compacts and the porosity of the sintered compacts were linearly related to the log compacting pressure. Similar relationships with pressure were observed for strength and electrical conductivity.

Photomicrographs of sections through the sintered compacts made from the reduced nickel powders show that there are pores in two different size ranges, originating from the porosity between the original powder particles and the pores within the particles. It is concluded that sintered compacts from all five powders containing 40–50% porosity have adequate strength and conductivity for use in fuel-cell electrodes.     

Optimisation of work roll shifting and bending to roll thinner gauge HR coils using genetic algorithm

Abstract

Rolling of thin gauge hot rolled (HR) coils demands stringent flatness tolerance. Thin HR coils (≤3 mm) are rolled towards the end of any rolling campaign. The profile and flatness of the strip depend on the profile of the loaded roll gap in the mill stands. There are five key factors that influence the loaded roll gap: initial roll surface profile, roll thermal expansion, wear of roll, deflection of roll stack and shifting of work rolls. This paper deals with all these factors individually for the formulation of an objective function in order to minimise the flatness error. The shifting and bending of rolls are the controllable parameters that require optimising. This has been accomplished using a genetic algorithm (GA) optimisation technique.     

Analysis of rolling load generated by pair crossed rolling mill

Abstract

Although a pair crossed rolling mill has a very high control capability of strip crown, a frictional force always occurs in the strip width direction between the strip and the work rolls. An analysis of rolling load was carried out, considering the shear deformation of strip cross-section caused by the frictional force. From the examination of the calculated results for a large-scale mill for production, the following conclusions were obtained: (a) the cross angle hardly influences the rolling force and torque, (b) the thrust force on the roll induced by the frictional force decreases as a result of shear deformation, (c) the thrust factor, i.e. the thrust force divided by the rolling force, is little influenced by the strip deformation resistance and the friction coefficient between the work rolls and the strip during hot rolling, (d) the thrust force applied to the rolls during hot rolling is 3–6% of the rolling force for the cross angle of 1° and this is not an obstacle related to the design of rolling mills.     

Surface inclusions and their evolution on strip rolled on CSP line and in following cold rolling process

Abstract

Hot and cold rolled strip samples with surface defects such as black pockmark, sliver and central cracking were collected from a compact strip production line followed by cold rolling. Microstructures and chemical compositions of the strip with defects were studied by scanning electronic microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Four typical types of defects on strip including surface spherical mould powder entrapment, centre spherical mould powder entrapment, surface linear mould powder entrapment and centre linear mould powder entrapment were studied by hot and cold rolling experiment in laboratory. It was observed that spherical mould powder entrapment was transformed into the surface black pockmark after the hot rolling and cold rolling process. Centre spherical mould powder entrapment led to central fracture in the hot and cold rolling process. Surface linear mould powder entrapment resulted in sliver and centre linear mould powder entrapment led to severe sliver.     

Investigation of delivery system using water model of twin roll strip caster

Abstract

The fluid transport characteristics and level fluctuations in the pool of twin roll strip casting were studied by physical simulation. The level profile depends on the transport characteristics of the flow in the pool. A 1∶1 water model of a twin roll strip caster was constructed based on the Froude number and Reynolds number similarity criteria to address the relationship between fluid flow and level fluctuations in the pool. The residence time of fluid in the pool and the nip points of the caster were measured to evaluate the uniformity in the caster in different operating conditions, and the level fluctuations and residence time were measured by wave gauge sensors and conductivity sensors respectively. The results show that free surface oscillations increase with the flowrate changing from 8·7 to 14·5 m³ h^?1. Suitable outlet extension and outlet angle as well as holes in the bottom of the nozzle were beneficial to obtain a uniform distribution of the fluid along the direction of roll width at the pool zone.     

Consolidation and green body characteristics of gelcast metallic powder

Abstract

A preliminary study concerning the compaction of metallic powder was carried out in order to investigate a rarely explored route in powder metallurgy, to form complex geometry parts, known as gelcasting. Green bodies produced with as supplied stainless steel powder showed a tendency to form foam, which affected the surface finishing. The mechanical behaviour of green compacts was also affected by the processing additives present in the metallic powder. Organics in the as supplied powder were removed by thermal treatment at 500°C and additional samples were produced. Although no difference in green density was observed, these samples displayed better surface finish and mechanical characteristics, as a result of improved adhesion between the polymer network and particle surface. The results showed that the gelcasting process is able to produce green parts suitable for subsequent thermal treatment.     

Simulation of thermal history of work rolls of finishing stand in hot strip mill: a numerical approach

Abstract

The work rolls in the finishing stands of any hot strip mill (HSM) experiences thermal shock owing to changes in temperature from initial boundary conditions. The thermal expansion owing to the change of temperature is a major contributing factor to the final shape or the profile of the strip generated at different stands of finishing stands of the HSM. A mathematical model has been developed for the prediction of temperature profile for the surface and the inner depth of the roll in the finishing stand of a HSM. The numerical result from the model calculates the temperature profile in each stand of six finishing stands of the HSM and the corresponding thermal expansion at different stands. The temperature profile and the thermal expansion of the work rolls for a complete rolling schedule have been found from this model. The measurement of the thermal expansion has been found to match closely with the calculated one.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPACTION OF TUNGSTEN POWDERS

Abstract

It is difficult to form tungsten powders into compacts by pressure-forming methods. The brittleness of the powder particles causes them to fracture under pressure instead of producing the typical “point welds” exhibited by more ductile particles. Because of this, the powder characteristics such as particle size, size distribution, and particle shape play a most important role in the compacting of tungsten powders.

Both regular- and irregular-shaped particles of tungsten powder are discussed as regards the formation of strong and dense compacts from these powders. Powders composed of irregular-shaped particles gave stronger, but less dense compacts. The effects of particle size and particle-size distribution are also considered. Each of these factors has individual as well as combined effects. It was found that certain critical particle-size distributions produced the densest compacts.

It is concluded that interlocking of particles, which is brought about by surface irregularities, and interfit, which is determined by correct particle-size distribution, are the determining factors in the compaction of tungsten powders.