Asymmetric rolling in a hot strip mill: opportunities and metallurgical effects

An overview of the opportunities of asymmetric hot rolling with respect to the metallurgical interest is presented based on asymmetric hot rolling trials performed at CRM. Asymmetric hot rolling has been found to decrease the rolling loads, to increase recrystallisation kinetics and to refine the grain size. Thereby this rolling practice opens the way to save energy, to decrease hot band thickness, to enlarge formats, to increase strength, to reduce alloying additions and to improve formability.