Single Roll Caster Equipped with a Scraper

A scraper was developed and attached to the single roll caster in order to improve the free solidified surface of as-cast strip cast. Semisolid metal on the free solidified surface was flattened by the scraper and the surface became flat. The AA5182 aluminum alloy could be cast at speeds up to 40m/min. Thickness was about 3mm. Pressure of the unit width of the scraper was ranging from 0.1N/mm to 1.0N/mm, and these pressure was enough to make the free solidified surface flat. Center line segregation did not occur as the strip was solidified from single side at the strip cast by the single roll caster. Roll-cast strip could be cold rolled down to 1mm. There was not difference between the roll contact surface and the free solidified surface of the strip after cold rolling judging by a visual examination. Result of tension test of the roll cast and cold rolled strip was as same as that of D.C. cast and rolled strip. Deep drawing test was operated at the conditions both of the roll contact surface and the free solidified surface were outer side. LDR (limited drawing ratio) was same at both conditions and they were 1.8. Thickness of the strip was controlled by the roll speed, solidification length (length of the melt pool) and pressure of the scraper. The single roll caster is simpler than a twin roll caster. Rigidity for rolling was not required for the single roll caster. Cost of the roll is half comparing a twin roll caster. The equipment cost of the single roll caster is more economy than that of the twin roll caster.