A vertical-type twin roll caster for aluminum alloy strips

A vertical-type twin roll caster for strip casting of aluminum alloys was devised and its properties were investigated. The strip, which was thinner than 3 mm, could be cast at speeds higher than 60 m/min. Features of the twin roll casters are as below. Copper rolls were used and lubricant was not used in order to increase the casting speed. Heat transfer between melt and the roll was improved by hydrostatic pressure of the melt. Separating force was very small in order to prevent sticking of the strip to the roll. Low superheat casting was carried out in order to improve microstructure of the strip. Roll casting of some kinds of aluminum alloys: A1050, A3004, A5083, A5182, A6063 and A356, were tried. Aluminum alloy, whose freezing zone is very wide like A5182, could be cast using the twin roll caster of the present study at speeds up to 150 m/min. Strips were thinner than 3 mm.