The challenge for a high performance cold strip rolling technology is to accurately characterise the roll-strip interactions, including the effect of lubricant and additives to lubricant on rolling pressure and rolling performance. This proposed research aims to produce a new path for revealing the mechanisms of mixed lubrication and for establishing practical methods for rolling characterisation. The project will have the following central innovations: (1) asperity deformation employing a novel mixed lubrication layer for lubrication and solid-solid contacts; (2) laboratory and in-situ experimental investigations into the effect of additives to lubricant on friction and rolling quality; (3) rolling pressure prediction.