Metallurgical assessment of two HSS rolls grades for Hot Strip Mill

Aurora and Kosmos grades are HSS alloys used for the manufacturing of rolling mill work rolls for early finishing stands of Hot Strip Mills.

Both alloys were metallurgically assessed using Electron Microscopy, X Rays analysis on carbides and Differential Thermal Analysis. These methods allow a better understanding of the behaviour of the studied alloys during solidification and cooling. Some mechanical tests were also performed.

A connection between the laboratory results and the performance in operation of both grades is performed. The strong metallurgical differences especially as concern the nature and amount of carbides allow to explain the good behaviour in service of Aurora.