Vol. 44 Supp.

SCIENCE IN CHINA (Series A) August 2001

Research of cold-rolling oil for stainless sheet steel

QIN Henian
PetroChina Lanzhou Lubricating Oils Research and Develop Center, Lanzhou 730060, China

Received July 5, 2001

Abstract The research & application of cold rolling oil for stainless sheet steel are introduced in
this paper. The results indicate that this oil has well properties of anti-wear, oxidation, emulsifying
and fine rust-preventing characteristics, it can meet the employable demands of SENDZIMIR high
speed rolling mill at all.
Keywords: cold rolling oil, stainless sheet steel, research.

1 Introduction

Stainless steel has higher strength and tend to splice roll easily in rolling process. So a lubri-
canting oil can be used to reduce friction and separate roll and sheet. The cold rolling oils for
stainless sheet steel is a metalworking oil with function of lubricating, cooling and washing. The
performance of the cold rolling oils have more strict demand, because of higher and higher rolling
speed and ratio with rapid development of metalworking industry. Stainless sheet steel surface is
demanded bright and the cold rolling use non-water-sol.oils. These oils comprises base oils se-
lected from light mineral oils and synthetic oils, anti-wear additives and anti-oxidation additives
etc. The research engineers of Lanzhou Lubricating Oils Research and Development Center con-
sult the quality level of Mobil Genrex 26, according to service condition of SENDZIMIR 20 rolls
high speed rolling mill in Taiyuan Iron and Steel Complex, draw up product quality standard and
exploit a cold-rolling oil for stainless sheet steel. This oil meet the quality standard and suit ser-
vice condition of work site completely after total analyses-evaluations and service-test.

2 Experiment methods and raw materials

2.1 Methods
(i) Draw up technical specifications of the product by reference Mobil Genrex 26 standards
and service of the user.
(i) Select base oils and additives such as anti-wear, oiliness, anti-oxidation additives etc. Fi-
nally let every function of product accord with technical specifications.

2.2 Raw materials

Main additives is anti-wear, oiliness, and anti-oxidation additives, they are products up to
standard. Base oils comprise hydrocracking vacuum distillation, raffinate transformer stock, and
synthetic oil etc.
 Supp. RESEARCH OF COLD-ROLLING OIL FOR STAINLESS SHEET STEEL 143

3 The results and the discussions

3.1 Main function of cold-rolling oil for stainless sheet steel and its performance demand
The first performance is lubrication. Stainless steel has higher strength and it is one of hard
working alloys. It tend to splice roll easy in rolling process. For these reasons , it has to use effec-
tive lubricant to reduce friction and separate sheet and roll in rolling process. Using lubricating oil
can increase rolling pressure and speed, reduce rolling numbers and rolling more thin sheet be-
cause of friction decrease. Another important action of this lubricating oil is cooling. Stainless
steel has high hardness, and large heat can be produced in rolling process. Sheet and roll are very
easy spliced if they are not cooled in time. In addition, rolling oil has washing performance, it can
wash off the metal particles (or abrasion matter) and other stain on surface of sheet and roll in time,
therefore surface quality of steel plate can be ensured effectively. The rolling oils may be general
divided water soluble and non-water soluble. Non-water soluble rolling oils, comprising base oil
selected from mineral oils and/or fats, and oiliness additives and anti-oxidation additives, are use-
ful for cold-rolling of metals which attach importance to appearance. Stainless sheet steel is useful
for manufacture of stainless steel products, and must have high surface quality, so the cold-rolling
oils is non-water soluble. The next sentence is discussion of main performance demands of the
cold-rolling oil for stainless sheet steel in service process.
(i) Viscosity
It can make thicker oil-film and have better lubricating action that high viscosity rolling
oils are used, but cooling effect is poor, and rolling sheet is not gloss. This reason is that the high
viscosity oil makes a thicker interlayer in the distortion region and the oil is extruded into plate
making a special micro-undulation. However, low viscosity rolling oils can make a gloss sheet
surface and it has better cooling effect[1]. Especially rolling speed of modern rolling mills is faster
and faster, and cooling effect is asked higher. For good cooling ability and the gloss surface of
stainless sheet steel, most of the rolling oils are low viscosity oil, and now tend to adopt rolling
oils which 40k viscosity is 7—12mm2/s[2].
(ii) Flash point
Although low viscosity rolling oils are better, but in order to prevent fire it must have high
enough flash point.
(iii) Oxidation stability
Rolling oil is used cycling, so it's performances are demanded stable and useful for a long
time. Oxidation is a main factor which change quality of the oil, thus excellent oxidation stability
can do pledge the oil useful for long-term.
Moreover, rolling oils for stainless steel should have better anti-corrosive properties,
anti-emulsifying property and rust-preventing characteristics. Yet outward of oils are pale and
clear.
 144 SCIENCE IN CHINA (Series A) Vol. 44

3.2 Draw up technical specifications

In Taiyuan Iron and Steel Complex of China, Mobil Genrex 26 is used for cold-rolling
stainless sheet steel. According to the level and performance demands of the oil in useful process,
technical specifications of the product are drawn up in table1.

Table 1 The results of Genrex26 analyse and tentative technical norm

Item Mobil enrex26 Norm Methods
Vicosity, 40
mm2/s 8.860 8.59.5 GB/T265
Vicosity Index 76 Report GB/T2541
Ash content m% 0.012 max 0.010 GB/T508
Acid valuemgKOH/g 0.02 max 0.08 GB/T264
Colourity, No < 0.5 max 1.0 GB/T654
FP,
159 min 155 GB/T3536
RBOTmin 168 min 180 SH/T0193
PP,
-21 max –12 GB/T3535
Copper corrosionlevel 1b max 1 GB/T5096
100
3h T3 Cu )
Anti-emulsifying degree 15.0 max 8.0 GB/T7305
(40-37-3,ml) min
Water-soluble Not Not GB/T259
Acid and alkali
Four-ball test PB, N 441.0 min 392.0 GB/T3142
Smell Less Less 

3.3 Base oils selection

Base oils are demanded for narrow fraction, high flash point and low pour point etc. Accord-
ing to tentative technical specifications of the product, the base oil should meet functional re-
quirement in table 2. Base oils selected from mineral oil, native fat and oil. Mineral oils are widely
used as it is cheap and easy to obtain
The cold rolling oils for stainless steel should choose high paraffin hydrocarbon content and
deeper raffination, especially narrow fraction light oils for base oils, because of smoothness of
rolling sheet. Stainless steel can sudden harden after pass rolling and it must be annealed, the lu-
bricat residues on surface of plate can form stains easily. The pollution degree rise with increase of
the base oil molecular weight when the temperature is constant. Narrow frication contain less long
chain molecules and low boiling point components, thus it can pledge better surface finish quality
and high flash point. The distillation range of base oils should be a internal control index, the ana-
lytical results of Mobil Genrex 26 which is used in Taiyuan Iron & Steel Complex (Taigang) and
Xibei copper processing factory(Xitong), and some laboratory base oils are seen in table 3, it
shows these base oils have more narrow distillation range than the abroad oils.
In order to protect the environment and ensure well oxidation stability, the aromatic content
in base oils are strict limited. Synthetic oil is better as its molecule structure is man designed and
 Supp. RESEARCH OF COLD-ROLLING OIL FOR STAINLESS SHEET STEEL 145

tent to reasonable, but high cost limit its application[3]. Hydrocracking oils have high saturated
hydrocarbon content and low aromatic content, well viscosity-temperature characteristics and pale
color etc., so they are ideal base oils.

Table 2 The base oil should meet functional requirements

Item Index Methods
2
Vicosity, 40
mm /s 8.59.5 GB/T265
VI Min 80 GB/T2541
FP,
Min 155 GB/T3536
PP ,
Max -12 GB/T3535
Mechanical impurites, m Not GB/T511
Water content, m Not GB/T260
Copper corrosionlevel
Max 1 GB/T5096
100
3h, T3 Cu )
Acid value, mgKOH/g Max 0.02 GB/T264
Water-soluble
Not GB/T259
Acid and alkali
Colourity, No Max 0.5 GB/T6540
Ash content, m Not GB/T508
Anti-emulsifying degree
Max 5.0 GB/T7305
(43-37-0,ml), min

Table 3 Analytical results of distillation range of some oils

Distillation range,

Oils IBP 10 50 90 DP Range
Taigang oil 288 305 332 375 416 128
Xitong oil 305 324 360 400 430 125
Base oils
ZG-1 285 310 336 349 373 88
ZG-2 305 325 352 382 405 100
ZG-3 294 316 338 370 379 85
ZG-4 290 320 344 377 396 106
Tentative index 285    410 125

3.4 Selection and composition of additives

(i) Anti-wear additives
Main functions of the rolling oils are cooling and lubricating, lubricating action is improved
by mixing of anti-wear additives. Anti-wear property isindicated by the Four-ball test PB in this
paper. Extreme pressure (EP) lubricants have better anti-wear property, but they likely make a
chemical reaction film on the surface of metal because of high active, so annealed detergency and
smoothness of rolled piece are affected easy. Oiliness additives can form a physical adsorption
film when they are pressed and they should be used. For health and environment protection, ap-
plication of traditional contain S,P,N agents will be limited, and moreover, dark color and smelli-
 146 SCIENCE IN CHINA (Series A) Vol. 44

ness lubricants shouldn't be used. Therefor, the anti-wear additives used for cold rolling oils for
stainless sheet steel must have characteristics of pale color, smell-less, low active and acid num-
ber.
Ester oiliness additives are more used in cold rolling oils, to improve anti-wear property. The
result of anti-wear property of some ester oiliness additives, in same base oil and dose,is shown
in table 4. It can be seen that oiliness agent-1, oiliness agent-5 and oiliness agent-6 have better
anti-wear property. So they are used as main additive.

Table 4 The result of anti-wear property research of some agents

Number Oiliness additive Four ball PB,N AN,mgKOH/g
ZG-1 Oiliness agent-1 441.0 0.01
ZG-2 Oiliness agent-2 411.6 0.02
ZG-3 Oiliness agent-3 411.6 0.01
ZG-4 Oiliness agent-4 411.6 0.01
ZG-5 Oiliness agent-5 460.0 0.02
ZG-6 Oiliness agent-6 460.0 0.02

Although oiliness agent-5 and agent-6 have better anti-wear propty, but worse
rust-preventing characteristic. Oiliness angent-1 has well rust-preventing characteristic, but it ef-
fects anti-emulsifying degree of the oil. For this reason, performances of anti-wear,
rust-preventing and anti-emulsifying are satisfied by complexing oiliness agent-5 and agent-1 or
oiliness agent-6 and agent-1. Table 5 shows the research results of composite oiliness additives,
and ZG-11 has better characteristics. Though complex oiliness agent-6 and agent-1 is fixed to im-
prove anti-wear property of the oil.
When the complex oiliness additive is established, the result of it’s correlogram of anti-wear
property and dosage is seen in fig. 1.
A complex anti-wear additive was developed by Lan-


zhou Lubricating Oils Research and Develop Center,




anti-wear property (PB) of the oil can be approached de-
Pb , N

mand when its content is 0.4∼0.6wt%. This agent not only



has better anti-wear property, but also has well rust-pre-










venting characteristic and effect-less to anti-emulsifying

dosage,wt%
ability of the oil.
Fig. 1. Anti-wear property change with
main agent dose (ii )Anti-oxidation additives
Anti-oxidants can improve anti-oxidation property and
prolong service time of the oil. Anti-oxidation property is indicated by rotating bomb oxidation
test (RBOT). Anti-oxidation property research result of some anti-oxidants is shown in table 6, it
is seen that anti-oxidation property of the oil can’t be improved only by add a agent dose, but it
may be effectively improved by complex agents.
 Supp. RESEARCH OF COLD-ROLLING OIL FOR STAINLESS SHEET STEEL 147

Table 5 The research results of complex oiliness additive

Oiliness additives and dosage, wt% (40-37-3,ml) (A)
Number Agent-1 Agent-5 Agent-6 min rust-preventing
ZG-7 0.2 0.4  3.7 Light
ZG-8 0.3 0.3  5.8 Light
ZG-9 0.4 0.2  7.0 Not
ZG-10 0.2  0.4 4.0 Light
ZG-11 0.3  0.3 4.5 Not

Table 6 Anti-oxidants and it’s anti-oxidation property

Number Anti-oxidant-1 Anti-oxidant-2 RBOT, min
ZG-20 4a  143
ZG-21 8a  169
ZG-22 2a 5b 235
ZG-23 3a 5b 270
ZG-24 3a 3b 270

3.5 Analyse and evaluate results of the products

By selection and mixing of additives & base oils, all analyse and evaluate results of final ex-
periment and industrial products are showed in table 7. It indicates that every characteristic meet
demand at all.
Table 7 Tentative index and real analyse results of the products
  Real analyse results
Methods
Item Index   
40
viscositymm2/s 8.5!9.5 9.406 9.455 GB/T265
Viscosity Index Report 86 83 GB/T2541
Flash point
 min 155 162 168 GB/T3536
Pour point,
max –12 "-16 "-12 GB/T3535
Water content, m% Not Not not GB/T260
Impurities, m% Not Not not GB/T511
Copper corrosion GB/T5096
max 1 1b 1b
(100
,3h), level
Acid value, mgKOH/g Max 0.08 0.06 0.07 GB/T264
Colourity, No max 1.0 "0.5 "0.5 GB/T6540
Water-soluble GB/T259
not Not not
Acid and alkali
Ash content, m% max 0.010 0.006 0.008 GB/T508
Anti-emulsifying test  54
GB/T7305
max 8.0 4.5 7.5
(40-37-3,ml),min
Rust-preventing test (A) not rust not rust not rust GB/T11143
RBOT min min 180 270 250 SH/T0193
Four ball test PB, N min 392.0 441.0 441.0 GB/T3142
Smell less Less less 
 148 SCIENCE IN CHINA (Series A) Vol. 44

3.6 Service-test results of the product

The Service-test has been being done in Taiyuan Iron and Steel Complex, the results indicate
that this oil have well properties of anti-wear, anti-oxidation, anti-emulsifying and fine
rust-preventing characteristics, smoke-less and smell-less in service process. It makes rolling
speed of rolling mill approach design speed (600m/min) and reduction rate up to 90%. This oil
meet the demands of SENDZIMIR high speed rolling mill at all and it is still used now.

4 Conclusion

The cold rolling oil for stainless sheet steel is developed by Lanzhou Lubricating Oils
Research and Develop Center, its every characteristic can come up to specification require-
ment, and it meet demands of industrial empolyment, it successfully replaces abroad oil and
achieves to let the oil made in our country.

References
1. Li Xiaoyu et al., The lubrication for Rolling Process, first edition, P187, the publishing house of metallurgical industry
(1981).
2. Oufeng, Applied technology of Petroleum products, first edition, P632, the publishing house of petroleum industry (1983).
3. Zhou Yaohua et al., The Metalworking Lubricants, first edition, P41, the publishing house of petrochemistry of China
(1998).