Deterministic Surface Sheet Steel for Low-Oil Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet steels, particularly coated sheet steels, require optimization to reduce the surface weight of oil while maintaining equivalent or better properties compared to prior art.
Innovation Solution
The surface structure of the sheet steel is impressed with a deterministic pattern where the valley region has a roughness Ra of less than 300 nm, minimizing oil requirement by utilizing capillary forces that direct oil accumulation along the flank region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional skin-pass rolling is used to create deterministic surface structure, then surface structure is achieved, but oil surface weight is too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions with different roughness characteristics: the valley region has low roughness (Ra < 300 nm) to minimize oil retention, while the flank region has higher roughness to provide capillary forces for oil accumulation. This spatial differentiation of surface properties enables reduced overall oil usage while maintaining effective lubrication where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface roughness parameter selectively across different regions of the surface structure. By controlling the roughness Ra to be less than 300 nm specifically in the valley region (and preferably less than 150 nm or 100 nm), the patent modifies the physical-chemical properties of the surface to reduce capillary oil retention, thereby reducing the quantity of oil substance required.
2Quantity of substance
If valley region roughness is reduced to minimize oil requirement, then oil surface weight decreases, but lubrication effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surface structure into functionally distinct regions: the valley region with low roughness for minimal oil retention and the flank region with higher roughness for active oil accumulation and delivery. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring that lubrication effectiveness is maintained through the flank region's oil reservoir while the valley region minimizes overall oil consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The flank region acts as an intermediary between the oil supply and the contact zone. It accumulates oil through capillary forces in its rougher surface structure and delivers this oil to the lubrication contact area, mediating the transfer of lubricant from the bulk material to the friction interface, thereby maintaining lubrication effectiveness despite reduced overall oil content.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the oil surface weight to up to 2 g/m2, improving tribological properties and reducing resource usage, while maintaining effective lubrication for forming operations.
Implementation Method 1
within the structure, in the context of capillary forces acting in the direction of the flank region, the oil wets the valley region only in small parts or not at all, and accumulates along the flank region
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to sheet steel, more particularly a coated sheet steel, which is skin-pass rolled with a deterministic surface structure, and to a method for producing this steel.