Rolling rod as an inner tool in the production of seamless metal hollow bodies and method for producing a metal hollow body

Abstract

A rolling rod configured as an inner tool in the production of seamless hollow bodies, such as seamless pipes. The rolling rod has a nitrided surface layer and may consist of a heat-resistant steel material having a chromium equivalent calculated by a formula, as well as has a minimum hardness, yield point and tensile strength. A seamlessly hot-rolled, metallic hollow body is produced by a stretch-forming procedure in a multiple-stand rolling mill via the rolling rod which is threaded into the hollow block. Prior to threading the rolling rod into the hollow block, the rolling rod is provided with a liquid lubricant and is subsequently dried. The rolling rod is threaded in with a clearance with respect to the inner diameter of the hollow block. Prior to threading-in the rod, the hollow block may have an average temperature of at least 1000 C., with the rod having a determined speed.

Claims

1. A rolling rod as an inner tool in a production of seamless metallic hollow bodies, said rolling rod having a surface comprising a nitriding layer, wherein the rolling rod comprises a heat-resistant steel material having a chromium equivalent Cr.sub.eq. of more than 6.5, calculated according to Cr.sub.eq.=% Cr+% Mo+1.5% Si+0.5% Nb+2% Ti, having a minimum hardness of 200 HV 0.5, measured 0.5 mm below the surface of the rolling rod, having a yield point of at least 450 MPa at 500 C. and having a tensile strength of at least 600 MPa at 500 C., and that starting from the surface, the nitriding layer has a depth of more than 0.15 mm and a nitriding hardness of more than 950 HV 0.5.

2. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least 60% of the minimum hardness remains in 50% of the diameter of the rolling rod.

3. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rolling rod includes said nitriding layer applied at a maximum of 20% below the tempering temperature of the steel material of the rolling rod.

4. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rolling rod includes a lubricant applied onto the surface of the rolling rod and dried prior to commencement of rolling, wherein the lubricant has a surface weight of at least 40 g/m.sup.2.

5. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 4, wherein the surface weight of the lubricant applied onto the rolling rod comprising of steel material having chromium content of more than 5 wt. % is at least 80 g/m.sup.2.

6. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rolling rod includes a lubricant applied onto the surface of the rolling rod and dried prior to commencement of rolling, wherein the lubricant has a surface weight of at least 40 g/m.sup.2.

7. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 6, wherein the surface weight of the lubricant applied onto the rolling rod comprising of steel material having chromium content of more than 5 wt. % is at least 80 g/m.sup.2.

8. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling rod includes said nitriding layer applied at a maximum of 20% below the tempering temperature of the steel material of the rolling rod.

9. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling rod includes a lubricant applied onto the surface of the rolling rod and dried prior to commencement of rolling, wherein the lubricant has a surface weight of at least 40 g/m.sup.2.

10. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 9, wherein the surface weight of the lubricant applied onto the rolling rod comprising of steel material having chromium content of more than 5 wt. % is at least 80 g/m.sup.2.

11. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling rod consists of a working part and a blank part and the working part of the rolling rod L.sub.ST has a maximum length, calculated according to L.sub.ST max=0.5maximum pipe run-out length based on a last stand of a multiple-stand rolling mill.

12. The rolling rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rolling rod is used as inner tool for stretch-forming of metal hollow blocks to form seamless pipes.

13. A method for producing a seamless, hot-rolled, metallic hollow steel pipe comprising: producing a hollow block that is subject to a stretch-forming procedure in a multiple-stand rolling mill; applying a liquid lubricant to a rolling rod for the multiple-stand rolling mill, with the rolling rod having a surface comprising a nitriding layer, wherein the rolling rod comprises a heat-resistant steel material having a chromium equivalent Cr.sub.eq. of more than 6.5, calculated according to Cr.sub.eq.=% Cr+% Mo+1.5% Si+0.5% Nb+2% Ti, having a minimum hardness of 200 HV 0.5, measured 0.5 mm below the surface of the rolling rod, having a yield point of at least 450 MPa at 500 C. and having a tensile strength of at least 600 MPa at 500 C., and that starting from the surface, the nitriding layer has a depth of more than 0.15 mm and a nitriding hardness of more than 950 HV 0.5; drying the rolling rod after said applying said liquid lubricant to the rolling rod; performing said stretch-forming procedure on the hollow block in the multiple-stand rolling mill using the rolling rod after said drying the rolling rod, wherein said stretch-forming comprises threading the rolling rod into the hollow block with a clearance with respect to an inner diameter of the hollow block of at least 10 mm, and immediately prior to commencement of threading-in of the rod, the hollow block has an average temperature of at least 1000 C. and a speed of the rod V.sub.ST during rolling in the rolling mill satisfies at least a plurality of conditions such that: V.sub.STmax=0.9rod length/rolling time of last stand and V.sub.STmax=0.9V.sub.Mmin, wherein V.sub.Mmin is a minimum speed of the hollow block during rolling in the rolling mill; and forming the pipe.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a drying time after said applying said liquid lubricant to the rolling rod and prior to the commencement of threading-in of the rod is at least 60 seconds.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said liquid lubricant is applied onto the rolling rod at a surface temperature of the rolling rod of at least 70 C.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a quantity of said liquid lubricant applied is metered in such a way that after said drying a surface weight of at least 40 g/m.sup.2 is achieved.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the quantity of said liquid lubricant applied onto the rolling rod comprising of steel material having chromium content of more than 5% is metered in such a way that after said drying a surface weight of at least 80 g/m.sup.2 is achieved.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising applying a deoxidant to an interior of the hollow block prior to said threading-in of the rolling rod, wherein a quantity of said deoxidant is at least 100 g/m.sup.2, and a time period after said applying of said deoxidant and prior to the commencement of threading-in of the rod is at least 30 seconds.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said liquid lubricant is applied onto the rolling rod at a surface temperature of the rolling rod of at least 70 C.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a quantity of said liquid lubricant applied is metered in such a way that after said drying a surface weight of at least 40 g/m.sup.2 is achieved.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the quantity of said liquid lubricant applied onto the rolling rod comprising of steel material having chromium content of more than 5% is metered in such a way that after said drying a surface weight of at least 80 g/m.sup.2 is achieved.

22. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising applying a deoxidant to an interior of the hollow block prior to said threading-in of the rolling rod, wherein a quantity of said deoxidant is at least 100 g/m.sup.2, and a time period after said applying of said deoxidant and prior to the commencement of threading-in of the rod is at least 30 seconds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the hardness and nitriding layer depths achieved for two materials; and

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates test results relating to the friction behaviour of untreated, chromium-plated and nitrided rolling rods in conjunction with different lubricants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) Within the scope of the tests carried out, in a first step the hot working steels which are suitable for nitriding and demonstrate a basic hardness adequate for the rolling process are selected from the set of hot working steels. Table 1 shows that a chromium equivalent of greater than 6.5 is required for this purpose, wherein in this case the chromium equivalent is calculated in accordance with the following equation:
Cr.sub.eq.=% Cr+% Mo+1.5% Si+0.5% Nb+2Ti(1)

(4) In order to successfully insert the rolling rods, the rod surface must have a specific minimum hardness prior to nitriding. Tests have shown that this limit is 200 HV 0.5 measured 0.5 mm below the surface of the non-nitrided rod. In this case, it is advantageous if this minimum hardness extends into the core of the rod, wherein at least 60% of the minimum hardness should still be present in 50% of the diameter of the rolling rod.

(5) In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the application of the nitriding layer onto the rolling rod occurs at a temperature which is a maximum of 20% below the tempering temperature of the steel material of the rolling rod.

(6) For nitriding process, the method, be it gas-based or plasma-based, is not significant. The only important factor is the formation of the nitriding layer with the required characteristics. In an advantageous manner, it should have a nitriding hardness depth of more than 0.15 mm. Furthermore, a near-surface hardness of more than 950 HV 0.5 is required, measured at cross-section polishes of reference samples also involved in the nitriding process. The following Table 1a shows the chemical composition of various tested rod materials.

(7) TABLE-US-00001 Material C Si Mn Cr Mo V A min 0.3 0.7 0.4 4.5 1 0.8 max 0.4 1.2 0.6 5.5 1.2 1 B min 0.33 0.8 0.25 4.8 1.1 0.3 max 0.41 1.2 0.5 5.5 1.5 0.5 C min 0.35 0.8 0.25 4.8 1.2 0.85 max 0.42 1.2 0.5 5.5 1.5 1.15 D Ref. 0.32 0.2 0.2 3 2.8 0.5 E Ref. 0.55 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.45 0.1

(8) The following Table 1 b shows the calculated values for the chromium equivalent Cr.sub.eq-calculated according to equation (1) Cr.sub.eq. (wt. %)=% Cr+% Mo+1.5% Si+0.5% Nb+2% Ti and whether a sufficient nitriding layer thickness, nitriding layer depth and basic hardness have been achieved.

(9) TABLE-US-00002 Sufficient nitriding layer thickness, nitriding layer Material Cr.sub.eq. depth and basic hardness A min 6.6 Yes max 8.5 B min 7.1 Yes max 8.8 C min 7.2 Yes max 8.8 D Ref. 6.1 No E Ref. 2.0 No

(10) The materials A, B and C have a chromium equivalent which is above the required value of 6.5, whereas the reference materials D and E have lower values.

(11) For the first two rod materials A, B as shown in Tables 1a and 1b, FIG. 1 shows which hardness and which nitriding layer depths have been achieved during nitriding. It is apparent that the required minimum hardness of 200 HV 0.5 is safely achieved even at greater depths than 0.5 mm starting from the surface of the rolling rod.

(12) Since during rolling the rolling rods heat up considerably, in general to above 500 C., on the surface and in order to ensure that this heating does not cause strength losses or damage, the hot working steel used must also have, in addition to the aforementioned chromium equivalent, a yield point of at least 450 MPa and a tensile strength of at least 600 MPa at 500 C.

(13) The lubricant must also satisfy specific conditions. Lubricants, when being sprayed onto the rolling rod, still contain water which should be completely vaporised where possible prior to threading the rolling rod into the hollow block. In order to ensure complete vaporisation, the surface temperature of the rolling rod should advantageously be at least 70 C. prior to application of the lubricant.

(14) Tests have also shown that a surface weight of at least 40 g/m.sup.2 lubricant on the rolling rod is required as a remaining dry quantity, in order to ensure an adequate lubricating effect during rolling. When rolling steels having a chromium proportion of more than 5 wt. % it has been shown to be particularly advantageous if at least twice the dry quantity of lubricant, i.e. at least 80 g/m.sup.2, is applied onto the rolling rod. In this case, the quantity of lubricant applied is based on the surface of the rolling rod.

(15) Tests have also shown that a period of time after the end of the application of lubricant onto the rolling rod until the commencement of threading the rolling rod into the hollow block of at least 60 seconds is required to ensure that the lubricant can dry sufficiently.

(16) It is also conducive to the service life of the rod if the load is distributed over the longest possible length. On the other hand, the working part of the rolling rod L.sub.ST must not be too long as otherwise the rod weights become excessive. It has been shown to be particularly advantageous if the rod length is limited to a maximum of 50% of the maximum possible rolling length in the rod rolling mill.

(17) For this purpose, the following formula applies:
L.sub.STmax=0.5maximum pipe run-out length, last stand of a multiple-stand rolling mill (2).

(18) In this case, the rolling rod consists of a working part and a blank part, wherein at least the working part is provided with the nitriding layer.

(19) At the same time, the speed of the rod V.sub.ST must not exceed a maximum value for the ratio of rod length/rolling time because otherwise the working region of the rods is exceeded during rolling. In this case, the rolling time of the last stand of the rod rolling mill is defined as the rolling time.

(20) However, for an assured process sequence it is recommended not to completely exploit the possible speed and not to exceed an upper limit of 90% of this value.

(21) The following formula applies: V.sub.STmax=0.9rod length/rolling time of last stand.

(22) Moreover, the rod speed V.sub.ST must never exceed the speed V.sub.M of the pipe material during rolling in the rod rolling mill, as otherwise the direction of the friction forces reverses. In this case, a limitation to 90% of the maximum permitted value of the minimum speed of the pipe material V.sub.M min is also expedient.

(23) Therefore, the following formula applies: V.sub.ST max=0.9V.sub.M min

(24) Two further variables which have a decisive influence on the successful use of nitrided rolling rods are the difference between the hollow block inner diameter and the rolling rod diameter, referred to as clearance, and the temperature of the hollow block at the moment when the rolling rod is threaded in.

(25) In order to avoid possible stripping of the lubricant from the rolling rod as it is being threaded into the hollow block and yet still ensure reliable threading-in, this clearance should be at least 10 mm and the average temperature of the hollow block should be above 1000 C.

(26) Even though impressive service lives of the rolling rods can be achieved by the inventive rolling rod and the inventive rolling method, without additional deoxidising of the inner surface of the hollow block being required, in the case of materials which are difficult to form it may be advantageous in certain cases to perform an additional deoxidation, wherein the surface weight of the deoxidant is then at least 100 g/m.sup.2 and the time between the end of the application of deoxidant and the commencement of rolling on the rolling rod should be at least 30 s. The quantity of deoxidant applied is based on the inner surface of the hollow block.

(27) Test results relating to the friction behaviour of untreated, chromium-plated and nitrided rolling rods in conjunction with different lubricants are illustrated in FIG. 2.

(28) It is apparent that the chromium-plated and lubricated surface actually produces poorer values for the coefficient of friction indicator than the untreated, lubricated surface (not illustrated in FIG. 2). It can also be seen that the unlubricated, nitrided surface has very good emergency operating characteristics. Even after a short period of time, the associated coefficient of friction indicator is well below the values for the lubricated, chromium-plated surfaces. These dependencies are substantially independent of the different lubricants 1 or 2.

(29) This behaviour is also known from practical experience. The lubricant does not adhere very well to newly chromium-plated rods, so that in this case the deoxidation of the hollow block, which produces an additional lubricating film, must assist the lubrication. Moreover, further measures, such as double lubrication or special lubricants, are frequently used for inserting the rolling rod, which is very complex and causes additional cost.

(30) In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the nitriding of the surface of the inventive rolling rod is performed in such a manner as to promote the formation of pores which are open towards the surface and which act as lubricant pockets or reservoirs and thus increase the service life of the rolling rod by improved lubrication.