In - depth Analysis of the Production Process, Application Scenarios, and Market Trends of Precision Rolled Tubes

 

Precision rolled tubes (also known as cold - rolled precision steel tubes) are high - precision seamless steel tubes manufactured through hot - rolling or cold - rolling processes. They feature no oxide layer on the inner and outer walls, a dimensional error of less than 0.2mm, high surface finish, and strong compressive resistance. These tubes are widely used in the high - end manufacturing field. The following analysis is carried out from three aspects: production process, core applications, and market trends.

 

I. Production Process and Technical Difficulties

The production of precision rolled tubes is divided into two processes: hot - rolling and cold - rolling.

1. Hot - rolling Process

The process includes heating the continuous casting billet, piercing, sizing, and rolling. In hot - rolling, the rolling temperature needs to be controlled between 1100 - 1150°C to ensure the ductility of the material. To reduce the impact of temperature drop on precision, an appropriate reduction amount should be applied in the subsequent passes, and the heat of deformation is used to compensate for the temperature loss. For example, in the last two rolling passes of the web, a small reduction amount should be maintained so that the elongation rate of the flange is higher than that of the web, thus balancing the stress distribution.

 

2. Cold - rolling Process

The core steps are pickling, cold - rolling, annealing, and leveling. During the cold - rolling process, the rolling force needs to be adjusted through the cooperation of vertical rolls and horizontal rolls. In the previous passes, a high rolling force is used to reduce the thickness of the web; in the middle passes, the pressure is homogenized; and in the subsequent passes, the pressure is reduced to avoid cracks. In addition, the cooling water of the rolls needs to be precisely controlled by the water baffle, and the distance between the water baffle and the roll surface should be kept within 1mm to prevent surface defects caused by uneven cooling.

 

Technical Challenges: The low - temperature rolling technology can reduce energy consumption and improve the surface quality, but it has extremely high requirements for temperature control. Only a few domestic enterprises have mastered the mature process.

 

II. Core Application Fields

1. Automobile Manufacturing: They are used for engine oil pipes, drive shafts, and suspension components to improve the safety and lightweight level of vehicles.

2. Petrochemical Industry: They are used to manufacture high - pressure pipes and reactor valves to ensure the sealing and pressure resistance of hazardous chemical transportation.

3. Aerospace: They are used as hydraulic pipelines and structural parts of aircraft to meet the requirements of high strength and corrosion resistance.

4. Medical Devices: They are used to process the catheters of surgical instruments and meet the medical - grade sanitation standards due to the non - oxide layer characteristic.

5. Military Industry: They are used in the manufacturing of gun barrels and shell casings, taking into account both lightweight and torsional strength.

 

III. Market Development Status and Trends

The market scale of precision rolled tubes in China has been continuously growing. According to the industry report in 2024, the upgrading of the manufacturing industry has promoted the annual growth rate of the demand for high - precision steel tubes to exceed 8%. Two major trends in the future are worthy of attention:

1. Process Innovation: The thin - slab continuous casting and rolling technology can improve the yield of ultra - thin strip steel (thickness ≤ 1.5mm) through temperature - uniform control, which is especially suitable for the production of precision instrument components.

2. Energy Conservation and Consumption Reduction: The low - temperature rolling technology can reduce energy consumption by 15% - 20%, but the problem of residual stress control needs to be solved. Currently, this technology is in the promotion stage in China.

 

IV. Quality Control and Maintenance Key Points

Precision rolled tubes need to be annealed to eliminate the cold - rolling brittleness and avoid the irreversible embrittlement caused by low - temperature tempering. In daily maintenance, although they have excellent rust resistance, regular cleaning is still required, and contact with acid - alkali environments should be avoided to prolong the service life.