Application and Research Twin Roll Casting-Extruding Process for Production Longish Deformed Semi-Finished Products from Aluminum Alloys

Abstract

At present, Russia is actively developing methods of combined treatment of aluminum alloys, one of which is the method of twin roll casting-extruding. It is very suitable for processing aluminum alloys having a relatively low melting point. The method consists in pouring a melt into the rotating rolls, crystallizing it on the roll surfaces, rolling with a predetermined reduction amount, pressing out in front of the die and squeezing out the product of the predetermined configuration and dimensions through it with drawing ratio in the range of values 10-40. Analysis of technical and economic indicators showed that this method has a number of advantages in comparison with traditional technologies of semicontinuous extruding and continuous casting-rolling. So the output of a good metal at high production volumes can reach 95-97% at a productivity of up to 3-4 tons per hour. In addition, it is possible to quickly move from one profile size to another by changing the matrix. The authors proposed and patented various designs and methods for producing solid and hollow press products from non-ferrous alloys. On their basis, laboratory and pilot-industrial units for combined processing have been created, on which experimental studies have been carried out to obtain long-dimensioned deformed semi-finished products from aluminum alloys series 5xxx, 6xxx, 8xxx and others. The energy-power parameters of the process are determined and found that they are significantly smaller in comparison with traditional technologies (in 10-50 times). Investigations of the mechanical characteristics of press products have been carried out, which showed that when implementing such a treatment scheme, even when producing extruded products from low-plastic alloys, they have a high level of plastic and strength properties. Developed technologies based on the method twin roll casting-extruding now are tested in a laboratory of combined treatment methods in School of Non-ferrous Metals and Material Science in Siberian federal university and industrial conditions of a number of metallurgical plants.