A top side-pouring twin-roll caster for metals strips

Three different metals (lead, Al–10(w%)Cu alloy and AA1050) were cast into 100 mm-wide, 2 mm-thick strips. Combined with both experimental and numerical results, the surface conditions and microstructure of the strips were investigated to reveal the formation of the melt-pool and its effects on the strips. The results show that, the top side-pouring twin roll casting has ability to apply to the production of different metal strips with various “production windows”. Rolling effect was observed on the strips of Lead and AA1050, and the grains were deformed, while strips of Al–10(w%)Cu alloy were mostly pressed together, with equiaxed crystalline in the microstructure. The steady state can be established easily and quickly, and the higher the melt-pool, the better the strip surface conditions.