What is Hot Rolled Pickled and Oiled (HRPO) steel? | Tata Steel DigEca about:reader?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdigeca.tatasteel.com%2Fresource...

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What Is Hot Rolled Pickled And

Oiled (HRPO) Steel?
7–9 minutes

About

The hot rolling process involves heating steel to high

temperatures and passing it through rollers to shape it into
its final form. This process can leave a surface layer of
oxide, scale, or other impurities on the steel. Pickling

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removes this layer to improve the surface quality of the steel

and prepare it for further processing.

HRPO, Hot Rolled Pickled and Oiled Steel, is hot rolled steel
that has been pickled with an acid solution to remove
impurities and other undesired elements, such as stains and
rust caused by oxygen exposure on the steel's surface.
Once the acid is rinsed off, a thin film of oil is applied to dried
steel to prevent rusting. The process of pickling and oiling
improves the durability, and malleability of steel and makes
the steel cleaner to paint. Pickled and oiled conventional hot
rolled steel becomes more robust and rust-resistant.
Because of its excellent workability, HRPO steel is a
preferred choice for the construction sector.

HRPO steel is often used in applications that require a high-

quality surface finish, formability, and strength such as in
automotive, construction, and industrial applications. The
pickling and oiling process also helps to improve the
formability and weldability of the steel.

What is the process of hot rolled pickled and oiled

steel?

There are three significant parts of HRPO processing: hot

rolling, pickling, and oiling.

Hot Rolling: When steel is hot rolled, it is heated at an

extremely high temperature. It appears red-hot at this stage

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and may be readily molded into different shapes. The hot,

malleable steel is driven past massive rollers, which form
and strengthen it. The steel is shaped into sheets and
cooled as it passes through the rollers.

This type of hot-rolled steel is widely employed in a variety of

applications. It may be found in buildings, railways, auto
ancillaries, and other use cases where strength is important
more than the surface. HR Black is used in genset frames
and body.

The HR steel has a flaky surface coated in mill scale after it

has been hot rolled. Mill scale is made up of surface oxides
such as iron oxide. Oxides deposit a layer on the steel,
imparting a rough surface and a gray-blue color. The steel
becomes more challenging and less durable if the scale is
not removed. This is why pickling and oiling become
important.

Pickling: During the pickling process, acid is used to

remove the layer of mill scale off the surface of the steel. Hot
rolled steel is immersed in a Hydrogen Chloride acid bath to
remove any scale, rust, and other impurities. The pickling
process leaves the surface of the steel with a matte finish,
which is why it is sometimes referred to as "pickled" steel.
After the acid bath, the steel is rinsed with water to remove
any residual acid and other contaminants.

Oiling: The final phase in the HRPO process is oiling. After

being pickled and cleaned, the steel is entirely exposed to

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the environment and is at risk of rapidly corroding. This is

known as "flash rusting." Pickled steel is quickly dried and
oiled to avoid flash corrosion.

The oil sprayed on the newly pickled steel's surfaces helps

to prevent corrosion and oxidation. Once oiled, the steel may
be stored for an extended period without rusting. Based on
how you intend to use HRPO steel, you might have to
eliminate the oil before manufacturing it.

Benefits of HRPO Steel

• The surface of hot rolled pickled and oiled steel is

significantly cleaner. Its smooth, even surface is excellent for
coating, painting and enameling.

• Because the oiling procedure improves the steel's rust

resistance, HRPO steel can be used to make structural
pipes and farm equipment. It has a long lifespan and can
withstand contact with both water and the environment. After
it has been oiled, the steel may be stored without rusting or
corroding.

• Hot Rolled Pickled And Oiled steel is utilized in various

applications, ranging from basic bends to intricate draws or
structural applications requiring a specified strength level.
Another benefit of pickling is that it aids in reducing the need
for pretreatment.

• Welding is greatly enhanced since HRPO steel has a scale-

free surface. It removes the need for weld seam grinding.

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Because the thick oil coating of electrostatically deposited

microns burns off during welding, HRPO products do not
require pre-cleaning.

• Because the pickling and oiling procedure is so successful, it

is not limited to steel. Copper, bronze, and brass can also be
pickled and oiled for improved polish and durability. These
metals frequently employ a variety of chemicals in their
pickling solutions, but the ultimate effect is the same.

Applications of HRPO

• Transportation:

Every principal method of transportation requires hot rolled

pickled and oiled steel in some way. Because of its welding
and paint adhesion qualities, HRPO steel is employed in the
automobile industry. HRPO is frequently utilized for weight,
strength, durability, and safety in automobile elements such
as hinges and trim. HRPO steel is used in the maritime
industry for beams, tubes, pipelines, and grating. The
aviation industry employs hot-rolled steel for fuel tanks and
exhaust components to reduce the risk of rust and corrosion.
Hot rolled steel is used in the rail steel for track, wagons,
coaches and engines which is also BIS compliant.

• Agriculture:

HRPO steel is used to produce farm equipment such as

clutch and transmission gears in tractors.The properties of
hot rolled pickled and oiled steel assist any apparatus that

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may be subjected to the weather. HRPO steel coils and

other irrigation system components survive longer. Some
typical usage involves tipper cabin and excavator bucket for
improved functionality and durability with hi-tensile steel.

• Construction:

Construction is one of the most typical applications for hot

rolled pickled and oiled steel. HRPO steel provides the
strength that the pillars and beams of skyscrapers and other
commercial and industrial buildings require to ensure the
safety of their occupants and visitors. Hot rolled steelmay
help structures bear weight, while pickled and oiled steel
portions can improve craftsmanship, lifespan, and
occasionally aesthetics.

• Consider using HRPO in applications that require heavy-

gauge steel, such as fire alarm systems and gas
transmission for both industrial and home applications where
more efficient processing and single formation without
breakage is necessary.

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Why hot rolled pickled and oiled steel?

Pickling produces a smoother surface, which enhances laser

cutting, shaping, bending, stamping, welding, and painting. It
has a wide range of grades, uniform mechanical and
chemical properties for improved performance. The primary
advantage or purpose of the pickling and oiling conditioning
is to reinforce the steel's protective properties, in particular,
against rust. HRPO can be used in car doors, gensets,
panels and more resulting in both cost savings and higher-
quality products. It produces a hot rolled product with a
cleaner surface suited for painting and a little barrier to rust
development. It is a general-purpose steel used for roll-
formed forms, pipe, tubing, industrial storage racks,
automotive and other stampings, air compressor housings,
filter housings, agricultural equipment, package strapping,

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and many other applications.

To learn more about HRPO, visit DigEca. DigECA will

ensure you have all the assistance you require, not just
answers to your questions. Contact an executive through the
portal. For more information, visit our website
https://digeca.tatasteel.com/.

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