A light cold rolling operation which must not cause significant changes in sheet ductility. This is called skin passing because it was originally thought to be a surface treatment as distinct from temper rolling.
1) Skin passing is a small amount (1-2%) of cold work removes the yield point in steel which otherwise causes coil break, fluting or stretcher strain in subsequent operations.
2) Modifies surface for example, by reducing surface roughness for bright (lustre) qualities or by specially controlled roughening for matt finish for drawing qualities.
3) Also used to improve strip shape (flatness).