Asymmetric twin-roll casting of an Al-Mg-Si-alloy

Abstract

The industrial application of high-alloyed Al-Mg-Si alloys for the production of thin strips by means of twin-roll casting is limited due to the structural inhomogeneity and segregation formation. To reach the highest mechanical properties of the finished product, a direct influence on the strip formation conditions during the twin-roll casting can be applied. Analogous to the asymmetric rolling process, additional shear stresses were created in the strip forming zone by using different circumferential velocities and torques of the caster rolls. To provide the asymmetric process conditions, only one caster roll was left driven and the second one was left idling during the casting process. The microstructure and the mechanical properties of the strips in the as-cast state as well as after the homogenization and subsequent age-hardening were analyzed. A comparison of the test results showed a positive influence of the asymmetry conditions on the strips’ properties.