Introduction
The process of hot rolling round tube blanks involves heating steel billets to a temperature above their recrystallization temperature and then rolling them into round tube blanks of desired length and diameter. This process is used to produce many products, such as steel pipes for automotive components, water pipes for water heaters, and other items such as hand tools and fence posts. Hot rolling round tube blanks is an important operation for Baosteel, one of the leading steel companies in China.
History
The history of hot rolling round tube blanks in China dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, steel was produced by puddling furnaces, which heated iron ore or scrap in air or oxygen and then hammering it into thin sheets. The manufactured sheet steel was then cut into short lengths and rolled into round tube blanks. This traditional method was replaced by the newer method of hot rolling in the 1970s, which became widely used in China and has been the norm ever since.
Process
Baosteel uses a hot rolling process to produce round tube blanks. The process begins by heating a steel billet to a temperature above its recrystallization temperature. The billet is then passed through a series of rollers in order to reduce its size and thickness. The process is completed by coiling the billet around a mandrel, which creates the desired round tube blank. Baosteel utilizes two different types of hot rolling processes to produce round tube blanks: continuous rolling and blooming.
Continuous Rolling Method
In the continuous rolling method, steel billets are continuously supplied to the rolls and then continuously rolled into tube blanks. This method is used for high-volume production runs. It is a fast and efficient method, and it is used by Baosteel to produce round tube blanks for a variety of applications.
Blooming Method
The blooming method is used for producing round tube blanks in smaller production runs. In this method, steel billets are heated to a higher temperature than in the continuous rolling method. The billets are then gradually reduced in size through a series of passes on larger rollers and then rolled into a round shape on the final pass. This method produces round tube blanks that have a smoother surface finish and tighter dimensional tolerances.
Quality Control
The quality of the round tube blanks produced by Baosteel is ensured through a rigorous quality assurance program. The company tests the dimension and weight of each tube blank for accuracy and inspects the surface for any imperfections. In addition, Baosteel conducts destructive and non-destructive physical and metallurgical tests to ensure the blanks meet the desired specifications.
Conclusion
Baosteel is one of the leading steel companies in China, and their hot rolling process is an important part of the production of many products. The process involves heating steel billets and passing them through a series of rollers to create the desired round tube blanks. Baosteel utilizes the continuous rolling and blooming methods for producing round tube blanks. Through their extensive quality assurance program, Baosteel ensures that the round tube blanks they produce meet the desired specifications and have a high-quality surface finish.
