Globular Crystals in the Center of Roll Cast Aluminum Alloy Strips

Abstract

This study investigated the crystallization position and formation mechanism of globular crystals at the center area in the thickness direction of aluminum alloy strips cast by a high-speed twin roll caster. Twin roll casters for single strips and clad strips were used, as well as twin roll casters equipped with a cooling slope. The globular crystals were formed from dividing arms of dendrites of the solidified layer facing the center area at the roll gap. The arms of isolated dendrite also divided. No globular crystals were formed at the interfaces of clad strips with different solidification temperatures because of the temperature gradient at the interface which inhibited division of the dendrite arms. It was demonstrated that globular crystals at the center area of the thickness direction were formed by dendrite-arm-dividing at the roll gap by the strip casting clad strip. Experiments by semisolid-strip casting with the cooling slope showed that globular crystals in the molten metal existed in the solidification layers.