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(11) | EP 0 120 441 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Roll for hot forming steel rod Walze zum Warmwalzen von Stabstahl Cylindre pour laminer à chaud de l'acier en barres |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
Background of the invention
[0001] This invention concerns cemented carbide rolls for hot-forming steel rod in multi-stand rolling mills, especially in a finished rod diameter range-of 5.5 mm to 12.7 mm. Carbide rolls, operating at rod temperatures typically in the 927°C to 1204°C range, have gained wide use in multi-stand steel-rod rolling mills and, to a large extent, have replaced chilled cast iron rolls, especially in finishing roll mill stands.
[0002] The development of twist free rod mills allowed the use of higher, more economical hot rolling speeds without sacrifice of rod product dimensions or rod surface condition. The successful introduction of cemented carbide rolls of homogeneous, single-composition, tungsten carbide-cobalt alloys provided a roll material capable of being designed to withstand higher rolling speeds.
[0003] The sole hard carbide constituent in these roll alloys preferred by those skilled in the art, and most successful in application, has been tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt.
[0004] The realization of the benefits of still greater rolling speeds of which improved mill design is now capable, however, requires roll materials possessing more toughness. Both the surface degradation of roll groove surfaces, or other working surface configuration, and massive roll fracture are related to several factors, among which major factors are thermal cracking caused by alternate heating and cooling of the mill roll as it encounters the hot steel rod and stresses due to mounting and torque transmission.
[0005] Rolls used for slower rolling speeds and larger rolling diameters, such as pre-finishing mills and bar mills having a finished rod diameter of 12.7 mm to 76.2 mm, are subject to even greater thermal stress because thermal cycling is accelerated by longer time intervals of roll-to-work contact and cooling exposure and, also, higher rolling torque and stresses due to the slower speed.
[0006] One of the causes of mill roll failure is due to the tensile stress imposed on the inside diameter of the mill roll when mounted in working position. The rolls are usually mounted on mandrels with means for exerting radially outward contact with the inside diameter of the roll. The contact with the mandrel must be sufficient so as to effect torque transmission between the mandrel and the roll. As cemented carbides are usually relatively weak in tensile strength, the tensile force imposed by the mandrel can cause failure of the roll. Bending stresses due to high torque transmission can also attribute to roll failures.
[0007] As disclosed in GB-A-2,036,620, the addition of tantalum carbide (TaC) to the outer part of the roll helps control the thermal cracking of the outer layer due to thermal stresses but increases the cost of manufacture of the mill roll. The said reference discloses a dual compact roll having an outer layer comprising, by volume, 45 to 72% tungsten carbide, 5 to 13% tantalum carbide, and 23 to 42% cobalt, and an inner layer comprising, by volume, 57 to 76% tungsten carbide and 24 to 43% cobalt, respectively. Both zones form a solid, integrated roll body with a sinter-bonded interface.
[0008] In order to reduce the overall cost of the mill roll, it was thought that the substitution of nickel (Ni) for some of the cobalt in the inner ring could be achieved without any major loss in tensile strength or wear resistance, Ni being a less expensive commodity than cobalt (Co). Surprisingly, the addition of Ni to the binder material of the inner ring dramatically increases the tensile strength rather than reducing it.
[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide a cemented carbide roll for hot forming steel rod in multi-stand rod or bar mills which is significantly more resistant to thermal cracking and stress related failures.
[0010] It is an additional object of this invention to provide a roll which possesses greater toughness as evidenced by longer roll service time and greater steel tonnage rolled before failure of roll would occur.
Brief summary of the invention
[0011] A hot forming rod mill roll embodying the present invention comprises:
(a) an outer layer in the form of an outer ring composed of a first cemented carbide material having a first binder consisting of cobalt, said outer ring having a hard wear resistant peripheral working surface for engaging and hot forming rod products; and
(b) an inner layer in the form of an inner ring composed of a second cemented carbide material having a second binder selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt-nickel alloys, said inner ring having an innermost mandrel engaging surface and said outer ring surrounding and bonded to said inner ring to form an integrated annular roll body, said second cemented carbide material with said second binder comprising: 45-72% tungsten carbide and the remainder cobalt and nickel in which the ratio of cobalt to nickel is 2:1.
[0012] Thus, according to the present invention, a cemented carbide roll can have the thermal fatigue and toughness properties increased by the addition of nickel to the roll composition. Preferably, the composition of the roll near its inner surface will comprise, by volume: tungsten carbide-70 percent; nickel-10 percent; and cobalt-20 percent; however, the composition may be in the range, by volume, of: tungsten carbide-45 to 72 percent; nickel-5 to 30 percent; and cobalt-0 to 42 percent.
[0013] Because of the cost of the cobalt, the use of nickel is also more economical in a dual compact roll with an outer layer preferably comprised of, by volume, 70 percent tungsten carbide and 30 percent cobalt. The outer layer, however, may be in the range of, by volume, 24 to 43 percent cobalt, and the balance tungsten carbide and singly or in combination tantalum carbide, tantalum, nickel and chrome.
Detailed description of the invention
[0014] The invention concerns a dual-composition carbide roll comprising a longer-wearing peripheral or outer cemented carbide zone in which the rolling grooves, or working surfaces, are formed and possessing exceptional thermal fatique and wear resistance compositions, and a mechanically tough inner support core of tungsten carbide-cobalt-nickel or tungsten carbide-nickel alloy preferably possessing a binder volume and carbide grain structure identical with or similar to that which exists in the peripheral or outer zone.
[0015] Both zones form a solid, integrated roll body with a sinter-bonded interface. Carbide-cobalt-nickel powder blends suitable for each zone are first pressed together in a powder compacting press, then sintered together as a single pressing.
[0016] The improved mill roll possesses as its preferable feature a dual-composition cemented carbide structure, of which the outer or rolling zone will be a hard wear resistant material, preferably a tungsten carbide-cobalt cemented carbide composition and an inner zone of cemented tungsten carbide-cobalt nickel, preferably having identical or similar volume percent of binder metal.
[0017] It is recognized that dissimilarities between the zones in carbide grain size range, volume percent of binder and binder composition may not cause an unacceptable rate of fracture failure of the roll because of inherent differences in thermal coefficient of expansion between the zones, either in use or during manufacture. Nevertheless, identical or similar percent binder volumes, carbide grain size ranges and binder compositions in the outer and inner zones are a preferred embodiment of this invention.
[0018] Cemented carbide rings were made having an outer zone composition in terms of percent by volume of tungsten carbide-70 percent; tantalum carbide-12 percent; and cobalt-30 percent, integrated by means of a sinter-bonded interface with an inner cemented carbide core zone having a composition in percent by volume of tungsten carbide-70 percent and cobalt-20 percent, and nickel-10 percent.
[0019] Both zones were made to have a tungsten carbide grain size range of approximately 90 percent 3 to 12 micron. The design density of the outer and inner zone was approximately 13.55 grams per cubic centimeter. The outer zone was 6.35 mm thick, just sufficient in ratio to provide for outer zone material both to accommodate the form of the rolling groove and the subsequent grinding of the groove between roll passes in an actual rod mill roll.
[0020] Carbide grain size ranges typically used in rolls in accord with the current art vary according to the precepts of manufacturers; it is recognized that at least some of the economic benefit of this invention will occur independently of grain size ranges employed in the peripheral and inner zones.
[0021] An incoporation of nickel, as an important hot steel rod mill roll constituent, is in itself, both novel and useful.
[0022] It should be understood that the volume percent of binder, as well as the binder composition, may be altered in either or both zones without impairing some or any of the economic benefits of this invention, and that, further, the benefits of this invention can be realized in hot rolling metals other than steel.
[0023] Tests on the above concepts were carried out by making test rings as further described herein.
[0024] Test rings having approximate size of 88.9 mm outer diameterx48.3 mm inner diameterx12.7 mm thick were formed in a mechanical press. Initially, the outer ring of the designated composition and the inner ring of the designated composition were separated by a thin, metal sleeve. The sleeve was carefully removed and the powder was compacted in a single pressing and sintered as a single unit. Fifty percent of the specimens were further subjected to hot isostatic pressing process.
[0025] Hot isostatic processing conditions for Items 2 and 4 were hot isostatically pressed at 1366°C to 1371°C for an eight hour time period and Item 6 was hot isostatically pressed at 1266°C to 1299°C for an eight hour time period.
[0026] With regard to Items 5 and 6, the low stress values were questionable and were attributed to the condition of the testing equipment, subsequently upgraded, and new tests (Item 7) were conducted.
[0027] The ring specimens were ground outside diameter, inside diameter and sides. The testing was accomplished by the use of a tapered sleeve and a tapered ram fitted into the inside diameter of the rings. Strain gauges were mounted on the outside diameter of each ring. The rings were placed into a hydraulic press and pressure was applied to the tapered ram and the tapered sleeve which expanded the ring specimens until failure occurred, and strain measurements recorded. Duplicate procedures were used to test rings consisting of only tungsten carbide and cobalt. The results of the test provided data indicating that-the composite constructed rings possessed a tensile strength of approximately sixty percent higher than that of a single composition ring having the same percent binder and grain size.
(a) an outer layer in the form of an outer ring composed of a first cemented carbide material having a first binder consisting of cobalt, said outer ring having a hard wear resistant peripheral working surface for engaging and hot forming rod products; and
(b) an inner layer in the form of an inner ring composed of a second cemented carbide material having a second binder selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt-nickel alloys, said inner ring having an innermost mandrel engaging surface and said outer ring surrounding and bonded to said inner ring to form an integrated annular roll body, said second cemented carbide material with said second binder comprising: 45-72% tungsten carbide and the remainder cobalt and nickel in which the ratio of cobalt to nickel is 2:1.
(a) eine Außenschicht in Form eines Außenrings, welche aus einem ersten gesinterten Karbidmaterial mit einem ersten Bindemittel aus Kobalt zusammengesetzt ist, wobei der Außenring eine harte, verschleißfeste periphere Arbeitsfläche zum Eingriff in die Stabprodukte und zu ihrer Warmformung aufweist, und
(b) eine Innenschicht in Form eines Innenrings, welche aus einem zweiten gesinterten Karbidmaterial mit einem zweiten Bindemittel aus der Gruppe der Nickel- und Kobalt-Nickel-Legierungen zusammengesetzt ist, wobei der Innenring eine an einem innersten Dorn angreifende Fläche aufweist und der Außenring den Innenring umgibt und mit diesem verbunden ist, um einen integrierten ringförmigen Walzenkörper zu bilden, und wobei das zweite gesinterte Karbidmaterial zusammen mit dem zweiten Bindemittel enthält: 45-47% Wolframkarbid und als Rest Kobalt und Nickel im Verhältnis 2:1.
a) une couche extérieure sous forme d'un anneau extérieur composé d'une première matière en carbure cémenté ayant un premier liant consistant en cobalt, ledit anneau extérieur ayant une surface de travail périphérique dure, résistant à l'usure, pour venir en contact et former à chaud des produits en barre; et
b) une couche intérieure sous forme d'un anneau intérieur composé d'une seconde matière de carbure cémenté, ayant un second liant choisi dans le groupe consistant en alliages de nickel et cobalt-nickel, ledit anneau intérieur ayant une surface venant en contact avec un mandrin le plus intérieur et ledit anneau extérieur entourant et lié audit anneau intérieur pour former un corps de cylindre annulaire intégré, ladite seconde matière de carbure cémenté avec ledit second liant comprennent: 45-72% de carbure de tungstène et le reste de cobalt et nickel où le rapport du cobalt au nickel est 2/1.