Consolidation by Continuous Rotary Extrusion of Aluminium Alloys Cast by the Melt Spinning Process

Abstract

Abstract One of the methods to produce aluminium alloys of an uncommon composition and structure is by the combined process of casting with rapid solidification and the following plastic forming. When modern advanced methods of rapid cooling of the melt are used, the alloy structure solidifies as a powder in the atomiser or as ribbons when cast onto a rapidly rotating copper wheel. If optimum conditions for the process of casting and rapid consolidation are satisfied, it is possible to control some structure parameters like the size of the particles, the size of the precipitates, etc. Additionally, the production of aluminium alloys by rapid solidification allows introducing the alloying constituents that are incompatible with the state of equilibrium. The consolidation of material made by rapid solidification is achieved in one of the numerous variations of the plastic forming processes, among which the most commonly used are the direct extrusion and continuous rotary extrusion (CRE). This paper presents the results of the consolidation in the process of continuous rotary extrusion (CRE) of selected aluminum alloys with an unusually high content of alloying elements cast in the process of rapid solidification by melt spinning and crushed in a high-speed cutting mill to as ”chips”.