Patent ID: 6672368
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
A method of continuously casting aluminum alloy strip comprising the steps of:providing a pair of rolls defining a nip therebetween; delivering molten aluminum alloy to the rolls; rotating the rolls to advance the molten aluminum alloy towards the nip; solidifying the molten aluminum alloy to produce a solid outer layer of aluminum alloy adjacent each roll and a semi-solid central layer of aluminum alloy between the solid layers; advancing the solid outer layers and the semi-solid central layer into the nip; solidifying the central layer within the nip to produce a solid strip of aluminum alloy comprising the central layer and the outer layers; and withdrawing a strip of solid aluminum alloy from the nip, wherein the molten aluminum alloy has an initial concentration of eutectic forming alloying elements and the concentration of eutectic forming alloying elements in the central layer is less than the initial concentration of the eutectic forming alloying elements.