A study of oxides formed on hot-rolled steel strip

Metallic oxide (scale) inevitably grows on the surface of hot-rolled strips due to thermal oxidation at elevated temperature and causes the surface quality of final products to deteriorate. The objective of the present work was to delve into the phase evolution mechanism of oxide scales during cooling and coiling after hot rolling and then propose a facile and controllable magnetite microstructure. The resulting innovative microstructure can then be applied to pickle-free steel with desired tribological properties in downstream metal processing.