Tool Steel Selection for Rolling Mill Rolls, Tube & Pipe Mill Rolls
Select tool steel by rolling temperature, roll size, galling risk, abrasive wear, hardenability, production volume, and surface hardness requirement. For rolling mill rolls, tube rolls, and pipe mill rolls, the main choice is usually between wear resistance, toughness, hot hardness, and through-section hardenability.
Quick Selection Guide by Tool Steel Grade
Choose the grade according to whether the roll is used for cold rolling, hot rolling, backup rolls, tube and pipe mill rolls, or severe galling and wear conditions.
Small Cold Rolls
O1 Tool Steel
1.2510 / SKS3
Recommended for short to medium-run cold rolling rolls and smaller roll applications.
Reason: O1 provides good machinability, moderate cost, and useful hardness for cold rolls where extreme wear resistance is not required.
Tough Cold Rolls
L6 Tool Steel
1.2714 / SKT4
Recommended for short to medium-run cold rolls where toughness and machinability are important.
Reason: L6 offers a practical combination of toughness, moderate cost, and through-hardening ability for cold roll applications.
Medium-Large Rolls
A2 Tool Steel
1.2363 / SKD12
Recommended for medium to large work rolls and backup rolls.
Reason: A2 can through-harden larger roll sections with low distortion, giving a balance of wear resistance and toughness.
Long-Run Cold Rolls
D2 Tool Steel
1.2379 / SKD11 / Cr12Mo1V1
Recommended for long-run cold rolling rolls where high wear resistance and longer roll life are required. ESR remelted stock from 120 to 500 mm is quoted on the 1.2379 ESR mill rolls page.
Reason: D2 provides high chromium carbide wear resistance and deep-hardening behavior for cold rolls under severe abrasive wear.
Severe Galling Risk
M42 High Speed Steel
1.3247 / SKH59
Recommended for severe rolling conditions where galling resistance and maximum wear life are required.
Reason: M42 is a cobalt-molybdenum high-speed steel direction for difficult rolling conditions where standard cold-work steels wear or gall too quickly.
Hot Rolls
H13 Tool Steel
1.2344 / SKD61
Recommended for short to medium-run hot rolls, backup rolls, and mandrels in high-speed ring rolling mills.
Reason: H13 provides hot toughness, resistance to thermal fatigue, and useful hot hardness for low to medium-temperature hot rolling.
Tough Hot Rolls
H11 Tool Steel
1.2343 / SKD6
Recommended for hot rolls and backup rolls requiring toughness under elevated temperature.
Reason: H11 is selected when hot-work toughness and resistance to thermal fatigue are more important than maximum hot wear resistance.
High-Temperature Rolls
H21 Tool Steel
1.2581 / SKD5
Recommended for long production hot rolling or special alloy rolling at very high temperatures.
Reason: H21 contains high tungsten, providing stronger hot hardness and resistance to softening under severe hot rolling conditions.
Selection Summary
This table gives a faster comparison when the buyer already knows the roll type and main failure risk.
| Roll Application | Main Requirement | Aobo Steel Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Small cold rolls and short to medium-run rolling | Machinability, moderate cost, and useful surface hardness | O1, L6 |
| Medium to large work rolls and backup rolls | Through-section hardenability, low distortion, and toughness | A2 |
| Long-run cold rolling and mass production | High abrasive wear resistance and longer roll life | D2 |
| Severe galling or abrasive rolling conditions | Galling resistance and maximum wear life | M42 |
| Short to medium-run hot rolls and backup rolls | Hot toughness, thermal fatigue resistance, and moderate hot hardness | H13, H11 |
| High-temperature hot rolling or special alloy rolling | Red hardness and resistance to softening at elevated temperature | H21 |
| Tube and pipe mill rolls where deep hardness is needed | Hardenability, wear resistance, and galling control | O1, D2, M42 |