Abstract:
A casting belt for using in a single-belt or twin-belt casting apparatus is disclosed. The casting belt is made of aluminum alloy such as an alloy from the AA5XXX and AA6XXX systems, preferably having a thickness in the range of 1 to 2 mm. The aluminum casting belt of the invention is suitable for casting non-ferrous and light metals such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc and their alloys, especially aluminum alloys such as Al—Mg, Al—Mg—Si, Al—Fe—Si and Al—Fe—Mn—Si alloy systems. A belt casting machine and process using the aluminum casting belt of the invention are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A casting belt for using in a single-belt or twin-belt casting apparatus is disclosed. The casting belt is made of aluminum alloy such as an alloy from the AA5XXX and AA6XXX systems, preferably having a thickness in the range of 1 to 2 mm. The aluminum casting belt of the invention is suitable for casting non-ferrous and light metals such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc and their alloys, especially aluminum alloys such as Al—Mg, Al—Mg—Si, Al—Fe—Si and Al—Fe—Mn—Si alloy systems. A belt casting machine and process using the aluminum casting belt of the invention are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An aluminum alloy foil is formed from an alloy containing about 1.2 to 1.7% by weight Fe and about 0.35 to 0.80% by weight Si, with the balance aluminum and incidental impurities. The alloy is continuously strip cast to form a strip having a thickness less than about 25 mm, which is then cold rolled to interanneal gauge and interannealed at a temperature of at least 400° C. The interannealed strip is cold rolled and further annealed to form the final foil product, having excellent rollability combined with high strength of the final foil.
Abstract:
A composite material having less than about 25 volume percent refractory particles in a metal matrix is concentrated to have about 37-45 volume percent refractory particles. The concentrating is accomplished by heating the composite material to melt the matrix, and then contacting the molten composite material to a porous element having an average pore size greater than that of the average particle size. A small pressure differential, on the order of about one atmosphere, is applied across the porous element, so that metal matrix material separates from the composite material and flows through the porous element. The particulate volume fraction in the composite material gradually increases. When the particulate volume fraction exceeds about 37 volume percent, the mass of composite material becomes semi-solid and freestanding. The resulting composite material may be further processed, as by forming to a useful shape or diluting with another matrix material.
Abstract:
A composite material mixture of free flowing reinforcement particles in a molten metal is solidified at a cooling rate greater than about 15.degree. C. per second between the liquidus and solidus temperatures of the matrix alloy. This high cooling rate imparts a homogeneous structure to the solid composite material. Care is taken to avoid the introduction of gas bubbles into the molten composite material while the mixture is stirred to prevent segregation of the particles. For viscous melts, an artificial surface layer such as a fiberglass blanket may be used to prevent entrapment of bubbles during pre-casting stirring. Additionally, gas bubbles are removed from the molten mixture by filtering and skimming.
Abstract:
An alloy of aluminum containing magnesium, silicon and optionally copper in amounts in percent by weight falling within one of the following ranges:(1) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.0.8, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, 0.3.ltoreq.Cu.ltoreq.3.5;(2) 0.8.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.4, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.0.5, Cu.ltoreq.2.5; and(3) 0.4.ltoreq.Mg.ltoreq.1.0, 0.2.ltoreq.Si.ltoreq.1.4, Cu.ltoreq.2.0; said alloyhaving been formed into a sheet having properties suitable for automotive applications. The alloy may also contain at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Fe in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Mn in an amount of 0.4 percent by weight or less, Zn in an amount of 0.3 percent by weight or less and a small amount of at least one other element, such as Cr, Ti, Zr and V. The alloy may be fabricated into sheet material suitable for automotive panels by, in a belt casting machine, producing alloy sheet by casting the alloy while extracting heat from the alloy at a rate that avoids both shell distortion of the sheet and excessive surface segregation, at least until said alloy freezes; solution heat treating the sheet to re-dissolve precipitated particles; and cooling the sheet at a rate that produces a T4 temper and a potential T8X temper suitable for automotive panels. By such means, panels suitable for automotive use can be produced efficiently and economically.
Abstract:
A high speed twin roll casting process is described in which molten metal is fed through a feeding nose into a convergent cavity formed between the walls of two rotating rolls with a meniscus of hot metal extending from the feeding nose tip in a casting zone and the metal strip formed in the casting zone is reduced in a rolling zone. According to the novel feature, the tendency of the metal strip to stick to the rolls is significantly inhibited by shrouding the hot metal meniscus with an oxygen enriched atmosphere. Also when the metal is an Al--Mg alloy, the sticking is greatly inhibited by adding to the alloy a small amount of at least one alloying element selected from nickel, lead, indium and bismuth.
Abstract:
A composite material mixture of free flowing reinforcement particles in a molten metal is solidified at a cooling rate greater than about 15.degree. C. per second between the liquidus and solidus temperatures of the matrix alloy. This high cooling rate imparts a homogeneous structure to the solid composite material. Care is taken to avoid the introduction of gas bubbles into the molten composite material while the mixture is stirred to prevent segregation of the particles. For viscous melts, an artificial surface layer such as a fiberglass blanket may be used to prevent entrapment of bubbles during pre-casting stirring. Additionally, gas bubbles are removed from the molten mixture by filtering and skimming.
Abstract:
An improved aluminum alloy fin stock is described having both a high strength and a high thermal conductivity. The fin stock contains 1.2-1.8% Fe, 0.7-0.95% Si, 0.3-0.5% Mn, 0.3-1.2% Zn and the balance Al, and is produced by continuously strip casting the alloy at a cooling rate greater than 10° C./sec. but less than 200° C./sec., hot rolling the strip to a re-roll sheet without homogenization, cold rolling the re-roll sheet to an intermediate gauge, annealing the sheet and cold rolling the sheet to final gauge. This fin stock has a conductivity after brazing of greater than 49.8% IACS.
Abstract:
A process for the production of a base foil of an aluminum alloy is provided which comprises a first heating step in which a cold-rolled plate derived from a continuously cast-rolled plate is maintained at a temperature between higher than 350° C. and lower than 450° C. for longer than 0.5 hour, the cast-rolled plate being comprised of a Al-Fe-Si type aluminum alloy, the aluminum alloy containing Fe in a content between more than 0.3% by weight and less than 1.2% by weight and Si in a content between more than 0.20% by weight and less than 1% by weight and having a Si/Fe ratio between above 0.4 and below 1.2, and a second heating step in which the resultant plate is maintained at a temperature between higher than 200° C. and lower than 330° C. for longer than 0.5 hour. The base foil is substantially free of macroscopic and microscopic rib patterns on its rolled and mat surfaces.