Study of deformation conditions at longitudinal pipes rolling from austenite steel grades

Stainless steels of austenite class 08–12Х18Н10Т have a high corrosion resistance, which stipulates for their wide application in various areas of industry. Technology of pipes production of the steels is rather specific and requires observation of some conditions. It was shown that temperature of a work-piece heating before deformation is an important parameter of the technology. It was noted that for the piercing of a steel work-piece with various chrome content, there is a rational temperature interval. Nonobservation of the temperature can lead to defects formation on internal pipe surface because of earlier destruction and opening of metal cavity during piercing. The choice of the rolling-out scheme has a direct effect on the work-piece forming in cross-sections. Results of hot rolling of O37×2,5 tube samples, manufactured of 08–12Х18Н10Т steel and carbon steel of grade 40 presented. The rolling was done at a laboratory mill. As a result of the experiment the lower limit of ovality of rolls grooves was specified for conditions of rolling of pipes from 08–12Х18Н10Т steels by 2-roll scheme. At the rolling with ovality B / H ≤1,07, defects appeared on the internal tube surface in the form of scratches caused by the mandrel. The rational range of ovality of grooves at multi-stand rolling can be from 1.08 to 1.15. According to criterion of groove overfilling by metal for steels 08–12Х18Н10Т, requirements were formed towards the groove width of the first stand of longitudinal rolling mill. The groove width must be larger than the sleeve diameter: for 3-roll scheme – at least by 2–3%, for 2-roll scheme – at least by 7.0–7.5%. Potential advantages of 3-roll scheme comparing with 2-roll scheme for rolling of 08–12Х18Н10Т steels were established as follows: lower probability of grooves overfilling by metal of the work-piece, absence of defects (scratches caused by mandrel), on the tube internal surface at minimal ovality level of 1.07, lower level of transverse pipe wall non-uniform thickness.