Effect of Aluminum Content on Mechanical Properties of Cast Magnesium Alloy Sheets Fabricated by Twin-Roll Casting

Abstract

This paper describes the twin-roll casting technology of magnesium alloys that contain relatively high weight ratios of aluminum, such as AM60, AZ91 and AZ121. The magnesium alloy sheets were cast by a vertical roll caster to manufacture relatively high-strength Mg alloys with high aluminum content. The influences of such process parameters as roll materials, casting temperature, and roll speed were ascertained. A simple method of predicting the convection heat transfer coefficient between casting rolls and molten metal is introduced. The microstructures of cast magnesium alloy sheets are microscopically observed to investigate the effects of roll-casting conditions on crystal growth in the cast products. It was found that Mg alloys with high aluminum content can be fabricated at a roll speed of 90m/min with a vertical-roll caster. The grain size of the manufactured wrought magnesium alloy sheet was about 30 micrometers due to rapid solidification in the proposed process.