The varieties and manufacturing processes of rolls have continuously evolved alongside advancements in metallurgical technology and the development of steel rolling equipment. During the Middle Ages, low-strength gray cast iron rolls were used for rolling soft non-ferrous metals. By the mid-18th century, Britain had mastered the production technology for chilled cast iron rolls used in rolling steel plates. In the latter half of the 19th century, advancements in European steelmaking technology necessitated the rolling of larger steel ingots; consequently, the strength of both gray cast iron and chilled cast iron rolls proved insufficient, leading to the development of ordinary cast steel rolls with a carbon content of 0.4% to 0.6%.
The advent of heavy-duty forging equipment further enhanced the strength and toughness of forged rolls made from this composition. In the early 20th century, the use of alloying elements and the introduction of heat treatment significantly improved the wear resistance, strength, and toughness of both cast steel and forged steel rolls used in hot and cold rolling. The addition of molybdenum to cast iron rolls used for hot-rolled strip and plate improved the surface quality of the rolled products. Furthermore, the flush-casting composite method markedly increased the core strength of cast rolls.
