Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of hot rolling copper or copper alloys such as copper wires and coppr plates. The present invention has succeeded in remarkably prolonging useful life of the tools used for hot rolling, and improving the surface quality of the rolled products by replacing the conventional methods of hot rolling copper using tools made of cemented carbide, die steel, high-speed steel, etc. by a method using tolls made essentially of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 tools used in the present invention contain at least one kind of sintering aid selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, AlN, MgO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and ZrO.sub.2, have a sintering density of 90% or more, Rockwell hardness of 88 or more and an average particle diameter of 2.mu. or less, and contain .beta.-type Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 as a main ingredient.

Abstract: A novel method of hot rolling iron and iron alloy rods, using a hot rolling tool comprising .beta.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and a sintering aid selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, AlN, MgO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and ZrO.sub.2, and having a sintered density of 90% or more, Rockwell hardness of 88 or more and a mean particle size of 2.mu. or less.