Casting of 6016 Aluminum Alloy Strip using Twin Roll Caster with 1500 Diameter Rolls

Abstract

A twin ro11 caster of vertical type with 1500 diameter ro11s was designed and assembled to cast an aluminum a110y strip. Strip casting of 6016 (0.16%Fe) and impurity -Fe added 6016 (0.45%Fe) was attempted using this caster. Both 6016 (O.l6%Fe) and 6016 (0.45%Fe) could be cast into the strip continuously at the speed of 60 m/min. Use of copper ro11s and non-use of lubricant contributed to improvement of the cooling rate and casting speed of the strip. The thickness of the strip was 3.4 mm. The microstructure was very fine. The as-cast strip could be cold-ro11ed without homogenization down to 1 mm. The T4-heat treated strip of 6016 (0.16%Fe) and A6016 (0.45%Fe) could be bent 180 degrees without breaking. There was no influence of Fe content on bending-ability. Bending-ability of the strip was improved by rapid solidification of the twin ro11 caster in the present study. The twin ro11 caster in the present study was useful for decreasing the influence of impurity Fe.