Abstract: Non-oriented silicon steel strips were rolled on a four-high cold rolling mill lubricated by a traditional cold rolling liquid and a nano-TiO₂ cold rolling liquid, with emphasis on studying the roiling lubrication performance of both the liquids and their effect on the surface quality and corrosion resisting property of the silicon steel strips. The surface micrograph and composition of the silicon steel strips after being rolled with both the liquids were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The anti-wear and friction-reducing mechanism of TiO₂ nanoparticles in cold rolling was given on the basis of experimental results. The nano-TiO₂ cold roiling liquid has excellent lubricant performance and can improve the surface quality of the silicon steel strips remarkably when rolled with heavy load. Meanwhile, TiO₂ nanoparticles are compressed into the silicon steel matrix by high load and a sliding system is formed to bear the load, leading to a higher wear resistance of the lubricant film.