Casting a Small-diameter Tin Wire by the OCC (Ohno Continuous Casting) Process

AbstractTin wires of 2 mm dia have been cast by the horizontal OCC process at speeds between 0.02 m/min and 4.2 m/min. It was found that unlike the casting of larger diameter rods, it was possible to continue casting, even if the solid-liquid interface existed outside the mould. If the mould exit temperature and the mould-cooler distance were maintained at 267°C and 2 mm respectively, the solid-liquid interface was located at the mould exit when the casting speed was 0.35 m/mln. However, when the casting speed exceeded about 1.2 m/min, the cast surface of the wire deteriorated and exhibited a matted appearance due to the formation of ridges. With a casting speed of 4.2 m/min, the solid-liquid interface location was estimated to be about 4 mm outside the mould. A calculated temperature distribution within the solidifying strand revealed that the solid-liquid interface entered the cooling water when the casting speed was 1.2 m/min. Thus, in order to obtain a cast wire with a high surface finish, the strand ...