Papers by Author: Shinji Kumai

Abstract: Effect of Si content of Al-Si matrix on roll cast wire inserted strip was investigated in this paper. 99.5%Al, Al-4%Si , Al-12%Si and Al-18%Si were used as matrix. Slit depth of the nozzle, superheat of melt, wire-diameter and roll speed was chosen as the casting parameters, too. Addition of the Si was useful to prevent the reaction between the matrix and the wire. A downward melt drag twin roll caster could cast the wire inserted strip of the Al-Si matrix of which Si content was ranging up to18%. Composite strip, which matrix was hyper eutectic Al-18%Si, could be cast at the speeds up to 20m/min. The gap between the wire and matrix became thin when the superheat was high. When the slit depth of the nozzle was too shallow, the wire could not be inserted in the strip. The thickness of the wire inserted strip became thinner as the roll speed became higher.

Abstract: A 6061 aluminium alloy and an alloy with increased Fe content, representing recycled 6061 aluminium alloy were cast into strips at speed of 30m/min by an unequal diameter twin roll caster. The Fe content of 6061 aluminium alloy and the model of recycled 6061 aluminium alloy was 0.36 mass% and 0.59 mass%, respectively. Ripple marks, which are typical surface defect of roll cast strips, did not occur on the surface of both as-cast strips. Fe content did not influence the surface condition of the roll-cast-strip. The as-cast strip was cold rolled down to 1 mm, T4 heat treatment was conducted, and then subjected to180 degrees bending test. The result of 180 degrees bending test shows that roll cast 6061 aluminium alloy and 6061 aluminium alloy with increased Fe as recycled had bending ability as same as that of roll-cast 6022 aluminium alloy. In the strip cast by the twin roll caster of the present study, increased Fe content did not influence on the result of the180 degrees bending test.

Abstract: In this study, the roll casting of Al-40%Sn-1%Cu alloy was tried by an unequal diameter twin roll caster. The unequal diameter twin roll caster could continuously cast the strip. The casting load of the roll was small to prevent the flow out of the Sn. The roll-load was 0.1kN/mm(unit width). The roll casting of 400mm-width strip of 8mm-thick was tried, and it was attained. The gravity segregation of Sn did not occur. The as-cast strip could be cold rolled down to 1mm. However, this strip had much porosity. The rapid solidification was useful to prevent the porosity. The copper roll was better than steel roll to increase cooling ability. The copper roll was suitable to prevent the porosity. The temperature of solidified metal was important factor which influenced the porosity. The 4mm-thickness strip with little porosity was could be cast at the speed of 30m/min.

Abstract: The net-inserted metal matrix composite strip could be cast by a twin roll caster at only one process. The net could be inserted in the strip or lower surface of the aluminium alloy strip. The matrix was Al-12mass%Si, and inserted net was made from SUS304 stainless steel. The diameter of the wire of the net was 0.29mm, and distance between the wires was 0.98mm (#20). The roll speed was 30m/min. The net was not reacted with the matrix, and there was not gap between the matrix and the net. The mechanical property of the net-inserted composite strip was affected by the direction of the wire of the net. When the angle of the wire against the tensile direction was 45 degrees, elongation of the composite became better than that of the matrix from 14% up to 23%. This reason was improvement of the local contraction of the composite strip. The net-inserted composite strip could be cold rolled. The reduction of the net was smaller than that of the strip. The reduction of the wire at rolling direction was larger than that of the wire at lateral direction.

Abstract: Porosity occurred in the 5182 aluminum alloy strip cast by a vertical type high speed twin roll caster. The porosity was caused by high-roll-speed and low-roll-load. Improvement of the porosity was tried by a scraper. The scraper was mounted on the roll, and the scraper was moveable depend on the thickness of the solidified layer on the roll. The scraper scribed the semisolid layer to improve the porosity. The scraper was useful to decrease the porosity of roll cast 5182 aluminum alloy strip.

Abstract: Roll casting of Al-SiCp composite alloy strip was tried using a vertical type high speed twin roll caster equipped with mild steel rolls. The Al-20vol% SiCp and Al-30vol%SiCp alloy could be roll-cast to the strip. The casting speed was 30m/min. The thickness of as-cast strip was thinner than 2.5mm. The SiCp powder was dispersed uniformly at the thickness direction. The as-cast strip could be thin down to 1mm by the hot rolling and the cold rolling without broken.

Abstract: An inline hot rolling was operated on 5182 aluminum alloy strip cast using a vertical type high speed caster (VHSTRC) at the speed of 60 m/min. A porosity existing at center line of the thickness and a ripple mark on the surface, these are typical defects of the strip cast by the VHSTRC, could be improved by the inline rolling. The rolling speed was as same as the roll-casting-speed of 60m/min. The temperature of the strip, when the inline rolling was operated, was 450oC. The reduction of the strip of the inline rolling was 35%.

Abstract: A roll caster, which could cast the three layers of clad strip directly from the molten metal, was designed, assembled and tested. The base strip was AA3003 aluminum alloy and overlay strips were AA4045 aluminum alloy. An unequal diameter twin roll caster was modified to cast clad strip. Two small rolls were amounted on a large roll. A scraper plate was used to prevent the mixture of the different kinds of melts. The casting of three strips and the connecting of strips could be operated by one roll caster. The interfaces between the strips were clear, and the mixture of the melt did not occur. The clad strip could be cold rolled without the annealing. The clad strip did not peel at connecting surface by the cold rolling and continuous bending. The strips were connected strictly. The casting speed was 20m/min, and this speed was much higher than the casting speed of the conventional twin roll caster for aluminum alloys.

Abstract: A scraper was equipped to a single roll caster to improve the free solidified surface. The scraper contacted to the free solidified surface at the constant force. The some mount of semisolid layer at the surface was removed and the surface became flat. The scraper was made from the mild steel plate. The mild steel plate was covered by the insulator paper to prevent the cooling of the melt by the plate. The melt pool was made on the roll by the side dam plates, back dam plate and the scraper. Therefore, a tip or a nozzle was not needed. The AA5182 and AA6022 aluminum alloy were cast. The as-cast strips could be cold rolled. The microstructure of as-cast strip was not uniform at thickness direction. However, the microstructure became uniform after the cold rolling and the annealing.

Abstract: Roll casting of Al-25mass%Si hyper eutectic aluminum alloy strip was tried by an unequal diameter twin roll caster. The casting speed was 10m/min. The thickness of the strip was about 2mm. The eutectic Si and primary crystallized Si were very fine by the effect of the rapid solidification. The size of the primary crystallized Si was not uniform at the thickness direction. The primary crystallized Si at the near surface was finer than that of inside. The eutectic Si was finer than 2μm. The strip could be cold rolled after hot rolling and annealing.