Abstract
The research reported here concerns the behaviour of the oxide scale that on steels, undergoing hot rolling. By doing a closely-linked combination of laboratory testing and measurements, rolling tests, microstructural investigation and, crucially, detailed finite element analysis, a physically-based model for oxide scale behaviour has been developed. The model has been successfully applied to circumstances similar to those in which it was developed, namely hot rolling of steel, importantly, it has also been applied to completely different circumstances – high temperature hydraulic descaling and room temperature mechanical descaling with considerable success. This is an affirmation of the integrity of the model. It is also an example of how a combination of techniques can allow materials to be characterised in circumstances where standard methods of measurement are not feasible or adequate on their own.