Abstract: A commercial metal working fluid and a self-developed rolling fluid were used to lubricate the IF steel sheet during cold rolling, and the influence of lubricant on reducing the minimum rolled thickness and the main motor power in the IF steel rolling process was explored by theoretical calculation and experiment. The results showed that the minimum rolled thickness of the rolled piece and the main motor power and energy consumption could be effectively reduced by lubrication. The minimum rolling thickness was reduced by 17.4% and 30.4% by LP-1 and LP-2 lubrication, respectively. After nine passes of rolling, the total power decreased by 2.63% and 3.35% by LP-1 and LP-2 lubrication, respectively. If the minimum rolled thickness of strip steel without lubrication was taken as the final rolled thickness, LP-1 and LP-2 lubrication could reduce one and two rolling passes, and the total power could be reduced by 8.61% and 15.31%, respectively. The friction coefficient of LP-2 lubrication was smaller than that of LP-1 lubrication, so LP-2 lubrication could get lower minimum rolled thickness and better effect of reducing main motor power.

Key words: cold rolling, lubrication, strip steel, energy saving