Effects of Processing Parameters on the Fabrication of Copper Cladding Aluminum Rods by Horizontal Core-Filling Continuous Casting

Abstract

Copper cladding aluminum (CCA) rods with a diameter of 30 mm and a sheath thickness of 3 mm were fabricated by horizontal core-filling continuous casting (HCFC) technology. The effects of key processing parameters, such as the length of the mandrel tube of composite mold, aluminum casting temperature, flux of the secondary cooling water, and mean withdrawing speed were optimized based on some quality criteria, including the uniformity of the sheath thickness, integrality of the rods, and thickness of the interface. The causes of internal flaws formation of CCA rods were also discussed. The results showed that the continuity of the liquid aluminum core-filling process and the interface reaction control between solid copper and liquid aluminum were two key problems that strongly affected the stability of the casting process and the product quality. Our research indicated that for the CCA rod with the previously mentioned size, the optimal length of mandrel tube was 210 mm. A shorter mandrel tube allowed of easier erosion at the interface, which led to a nonuniform sheath thickness. Conversely, it tended to result in a discontinuous filling process of liquid aluminum, which causes shrinkage or cold shuts. The optimal casting temperatures of copper and aluminum were 1503 K (1230 °C) and 1043 K to 1123 K (770 °C to 850 °C), respectively. When the casting temperature of aluminum was below 1043 K (770 °C), the casting process would be discontinuous, resulting in shrinkages or cold shuts. Nevertheless, when the casting temperature of aluminum was higher than 1123 K (850 °C), a severe interface reaction between solid copper and liquid aluminum would occur. The proper flux of the secondary cooling water and the mean withdrawing speed were determined as 600 to 800 L/h and 60 to 87 mm/min, respectively. In the previously mentioned proper ranges of processing parameters, the interfacial shear strengths of CCA rods were 40.5 to 67.9 MPa.