Numerical analysis of rapid solidification in a single roller process

Abstract

The rapid solidification in a single roller process has been used to make amorphous ribbons. Because this process occurs rapidly, it is difficult to obtain useful experimental data. Therefore, a numerical analysis has been performed on the rapid solidification in a single roller cooling process. The VOF (volume of fluid) method was adopted as the numerical method used to simulate transient two-dimensional thermal and fluid flow with a liquid-solid phase change and free surfaces. We simulated the behavior of an aluminum alloy. The geometry of the amorphous ribbon, flow and temperature fields, temperature history of alloy particle whose initial location is at the center of the nozzle, and the cooling rate were obtained using as parameters the roll velocity, the nozzle slot breadth, and the gap between nozzle and roller.