Modelling of hot rolling of steel strip involves metallurgical phenomena such as restoration of deformed structures, transformation to ferrite and growth of the oxide layer on top of the steel strip. The effect of composition is taken into account when restoration and phase transformation is considered, whereas it is assumed that the chemical composition of the steel substrate does not affect the oxide crust, being common place to consider the oxide just as a thermal barrier and to assume sticking conditions within the roll-gap. Observations indicate that elements such as silicon and manganese, more susceptible to oxidize than iron, affect the growth kinetics, adhesion and the behaviour during deformation of the oxide layer. This work deals with the way used to model various superficial and metallurgical phenomena, and how this knowledge is used to simulate hot rolling of steel strip.