In steel rolling operations, a TC ring acts like a "high-strength wear-resistant ring" that fits around the roll and makes direct contact with the steel. The quality of its material has a direct impact on rolling precision and production efficiency. Today’s common TC ring materials fall into two main categories, each with distinct characteristics and ideal use cases. Here’s a straightforward breakdown:

I. Steel-based Materials: The "Practical Choice" for Cost-Effectiveness

These materials are based on steel, with small additions of alloying elements like chromium and molybdenum to boost performance—essentially "upgrading and reinforcing" regular steel. They strike a balance between durability and affordability, making them the go-to basic option for most TC ring applications.

(1) Alloy Tool Steel

• Features: After specialized heat treatment, it offers high hardness and good toughness, can handle moderate impact and friction, and maintains solid performance at elevated temperatures.

• Application Scenarios: Ideal for medium and low-speed rolling, such as rough rolling of threaded steel and intermediate rolling of bars. Suitable for most everyday ordinary steel rolling tasks requiring TC rings.

(2) Alloy Cast Iron

• Features: More wear-resistant than standard cast iron; certain types (e.g., ductile iron) also boast decent toughness. It’s more budget-friendly than alloy tool steel, delivering strong cost-effectiveness for TC ring production.

• Application Scenarios: Rough rolling of strip steel, rolling of large-section steel, or cost-sensitive production environments with lower rolling speeds that use TC rings.

II. Cemented Carbide: The "High-End Option" for Superior Wear Resistance

If steel-based materials are the "practical choice," cemented carbide is the "performance powerhouse" for TC rings. It consists of hard carbides as the base material, bonded together with metals like cobalt, offering far greater hardness and wear resistance than steel.

(1) Core Features

• Exceptional hardness: Significantly harder than ordinary steel, capable of withstanding high-speed friction without easy deformation during rolling;

• Consistent precision: Minimal thermal expansion and contraction, leading to more precise dimensions for the rolled steel;

• Limitation: Slightly lower toughness (prone to damage from severe impact) and a higher price point compared to steel-based TC ring materials.

(2) Application Scenarios

• High-wear type: Perfect for high-speed precision rolling, such as the final finishing passes of wire rods and bars, where rolling speeds exceed 100 meters per second;

• General-purpose type: Balances wear resistance and impact resistance, suited for mid-stage finishing rolling processes requiring TC rings;

• High-toughness type: Can absorb moderate impact, making it ideal for high-speed rolling operations with significant impact forces (e.g., finishing rolling of threaded steel) that use TC rings.

Summary

In short, the key to choosing a TC ring material is "matching it to your needs": For conventional rolling with budget constraints, steel-based materials serve as the reliable "practical choice," delivering great cost-effectiveness. For high-speed rolling, high-precision end products, or harsh wear conditions, cemented carbide—the "performance powerhouse"—is the more dependable option for TC rings.

When making a practical choice, considering your rolling speed, product precision requirements, and budget will help you select the right TC ring—ensuring stable production while avoiding unnecessary costs.