Hot-rolling experiments on deformation behaviour of oxide scale

A new test technique developed by the authors allows to investigate the brittle-ductile behaviour of oxide scale during the hot-rolling process. Sandwich specimens were pre-oxidised and then welded so as to be gas-tight. A micro-alloyed deep-drawing quality steel (interstitial free steel) and a fine-grained low-pearlite structural steel served as test material. The experiments were performed at temperatures up to 1050 degreesC. Optical metallography was used to describe the changes of the scale layers. The method is quite good to describe the results qualitatively whereas it is rather difficult to derive quantitative results.