GB1354771A - Continuous casting for decorative architectural panels - Google Patents

Abstract

1354771 Continuous casting ALCAN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Ltd 16 May 1972 [18 May 1971] 15629/71 Heading B3F To cast A1 strip, e.g. up to 6 mm. thick, with a rough surface, for the production of architectural panels, a pool 14 of the molten metal is maintained in contact with the cooled surface of an upwardly moving inclined portion of an endless (steel) belt or, as shown, of a drum 1, so that metal is drawn up and the strip so produced is in contact with the surface for at least 5 sees.; at the contact with the pool 14 the inclination of the cooled surface is 20-60 degrees, the metal has a freezing range not exceeding 20‹ C. and a total alloying content (including impurities) not exceeding ¢% and the temperature of the metal supplied to the pool 14 is in the range 690-710‹ C., unless a smoother, rippled surface is required, in which case a titanium diboride grain refiner is added and the metal is supplied at 720-740‹ C. The drum surface may be rough to increase the irregularity of the upper surface of the strip. Some solid granules may form in the metal in the launder 10 containing the pool 14. The Al alloy contains 0À17-0À20% Fe and 0À08-0À10% Si and possibly a little Mg and Mn. The drum 1 rotates on rollers 2 and has a closed end with a spindle bearing a sprocket for chain drive. Through an open mouth 7 at the other end, a spray bar 9 extends to spray water on to part of the drum inner surface as shown and a pool 8 overflows. A dip tube and float 11 maintain the metal level movably adjustable in the launder 10 which broadens to the drum width and contains adjustable vanes diverging correspondingly to maintain an even depth. A strip of flexible insulation seals the edge at the drum surface. A stripping shoe 17 directs the cast strip around a roll 15 on to a table 16 for coiling or cutting.