Fabrication of Aluminum Alloy Strip by Roll Caster Equipped with a Scraper

Abstract

A single roll caster equipped with a scraper (SRCES) was devised in order to improve the free solidified surface. The scraper contacted to the free solidified surface at the constant force. The some amount of semisolid layer on the solid layer was removed and the surface became flat. The scraper was made from the mild steel plate. The mild steel plate was covered by the insulator paper to prevent the cooling of the melt. The melt pool was made on the roll by the side dam plates, back dam plate and the scraper. Therefore, a tip or a nozzle was not needed. In this study, AA6022 and AA5182 aluminum alloy were cast by SRCES. The scraped surface condition of the strip cast by SRCES was investigated. The free solidified surface was flat. The as-cast strip could be cold rolling. The free solidified surface could be cold-rolled and the roughness was reduced. The mechanical properties of cast strip were investigated by the 180 degrees bending test. There was no difference between the roll contact surface and the free solidified surface after cold rolling. This result showed that the free solidified surface could be improved up to the roll contact surface by the scraper and cold rolling. Furthermore, in this study, the scraper was applied to a twin roll caster. The aluminum alloy clad strip was cast by twin roll caster equipped with a scraper. Interface of the clad strip was connected and clear.