Roll Bite

The roll bite is the specific contact zone where the metal strip is engaged by the work rolls in a rolling mill. This is the "theatre of deformation" where the most intense physical changes occur. In the roll bite, the strip's thickness is reduced through massive compressive forces. The physics here are governed by the friction between the roll and the strip; if the friction is too low, the rolls will slip, but if it is too high, the surface of the metal can be damaged. Heat generated in the roll bite can also lead to localized tempering effects.