Swiss Aluminium Ltd.

Alusuisse-lonza Services Ltd.

Swiss Aluminum Ltd.

Kurt Buxmann

Martin Bolliger

Ivan Gyongyos

Miroslaw Plata

Alfred Steinegger

Kurt Neufeld

Jean-Daniel Bornand

Jean-Pierre Gabathuler

Heinz Bichsel

Urs Banninger

Silvano Freti

Willi Kerth

An alloy melt having a solidified portion of primary crystals is maintained at a temperature between solidus and liquidus temperature of the alloy. The primary crystals are molded to give individual degenerated dendrites or cast grains of essentially globular shape and hence impart thixotropic properties to the liquid-solid metal alloy phase by the production of mechanical vibrations in the frequency range between 10 and 100 kHz in this liquid-solid metal alloy phase.

Process for producing a liquid-solid metal alloy phase for further

The process for purifying a metal melt operates with an active gas introduced into the lower region thereof and consisting of an inert carrier gas and an active, gaseous halogen which are introduced under control into a vessel with the stagnant or flowing metal melt. The active, gaseous halogen is generated at a controlled rate in at least one gas evolution cell and introduced into the carrier gas. The active gas mixture is passed directly into the metal melt. The gas feed line of the halogen does not have any control element. The gas evolution cell for generating the halogen is preferably an exchangeable electrolysis cell, gas being produced only when the electrolysis current is switched on, which follows a nominal curve proportionally to the current intensity.

Purification of metal melts with halogen gas generated in an

A process for continuous production of an extruded section, in particular of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, wherein a prefabricated rod is fed to a die by means of a friction wheel and extruded through the die. The rod is formed by casting the molten metal in an electromagnetic mold and the solidified rod fed directly to the friction wheel the circumference of which advances the rod at the same speed as the rate of casting of the rod in the electromagnetic mold. The process enables high quality extruded sections to be produced at a economic cost.

Process for continuous production of an extruded section

The process is such that a gas/fluid mixture is sprayed in the form of a mist onto the surface of the object to be cooled. To that end a stream of fluid is passed through the nozzle outlet and atomized to a mist of droplet size &lt;100 .mu.m, and after emerging from the nozzle is impacted by gas streams at an angle (x) of 0.degree.-90.degree. to the nozzle axis (x) to accelerate and deflect the droplets. The intensities of the gas stream can be regulated independently of one another. The process is suitable for cooling conventionally or electromagnetically cast ingots, rolled products and extruded products of metal, in particular aluminum. A suitable device for carrying out the process is comprised essentially of a part (1) featuring a nozzle (3) that supplies and aligns a fluid, and bores (5a, b) that supply gas, part 1 fitting into a counter part (2) such that gas alignment channels (7a, b) are formed.

Process and device for cooling an object

A process for measuring the rate of oxidation on the surface of a metal melt wherein the oxide skin on the melt surface is removed at constant temperature and the electromagnetic radiation during the subsequent oxidation is measured with an infra-red radiation pyrometer such that the variation in intensity of the electromagnetic radiation indicates the rate of oxidation. The process can also be employed for measuring the concentration in a metal melt of the elements influencing the rate of oxidation.

Method of measurement of the rate of oxidation of a metal melt

A process for controlling the rate of cooling an ingot emerging from a continuous casting mold, said ingot being cooled by application of a fluid coolant directly onto the ingot surface, comprises continuous measurement of the cooling capacity and influencing the composition and/or the quantity of coolant employed per unit time i.e. in the sense of matching up to the required coolant capacity. As such the measurement of the coolant capacity is performed at least at one place outwith the ingot and using coolant not coming into contact with the ingot. The corresponding continuous casting unit features control elements (6) that act upon the composition and/or the amount of fluid coolant released per unit time and comprises at least one body (1) exhibiting good electrical conductivity; at least one coolant nozzle (2) which is connected to the coolant container (3) and is directed at a measuring point on the body (1); a heating device (4) that acts upon that point on the body (1); at least one temperature sensor (5,5') situated under the surface of the body (1) at the measuring point; and a data processing unit (7) connected up to the temperature sensor (5,5'), heating device (4) and control elements (6).

Process and device for controlling the rate of cooling a continuously

In an apparatus for the continuous casting of metal, especially with a casting machine having circulating molds, the metal flows as a melt out of a nozzle, if appropriate with a nozzle mouthpiece, between molds and solidifies between side-limiting elements. The mouthpiece has adjoining it on each of its two sides a baffle which is followed in the casting direction by a cooling block. Between the baffle and cooling block there is a gap through which a gas can be blown into a corner region formed by the baffle, cooling block and melt, this gas forming a gas cushion in this corner region. The throughflow width of the molten metal between the baffles located opposite one another can be changed as a result of the movement of the baffles in the direction. The same applies to the width of the cooling blocks located opposite one another.

Apparatus and method for the continuous casting of metal

In a caterpillar track type mold having opposed moving mold belts wherein molten metal is fed to the mold by a nozzle, a process for preventing back flow of metal between the moving mold belts and the nozzle comprising feeding a fluxing powder between the nozzle and the moving mold belts wherein the fluxing powder forms a protective skin on the surface of the molten metal downstream of the nozzle.

Process for preventing metal penetrating between a mold wall and a nozzle

A mold for casting metals is provided with a roughened surface so that, on first contact of the mold with the melt, heat transfer is controlled in such a way that the melt comes into contact only with the peaks of the projections on the mold surface and an air gap is formed between the melt and the valleys on the surface. The pattern of roughness on the mold surface comprises a uniform arrangement of pyramidal or blunted-cone shaped projections. Neighboring projections are spaced a distance d of 0.05 to 1 mm apart and have a height h of 0.1d&lt;h&lt;d. The pyramid or blunted con surfaces satisfy the condition of 0.05&lt;.function./d.sup.2 &lt;0.5. A process which does not involve deformation is preferred for producing the rough pattern, for example, a photochemical etching process. The molds are suitable for many casting processes, in particular for continuous D.C. ingot or strip casting with moving molds and caterpillar track type mold belts.

Mould with roughened surface for casting metals

The present invention teaches a multi-stepped process for preparing high strength, improved formability, low earing strip stock which is especially suitable for the manufacture of deep drawn and ironed hollow bodies such as cans or the like. The process of the present invention is carried out in two distinct operations. The first operation comprises continuously casting an aluminum melt into strip form on a strip casting machine so as to produce a desired dendritic arm spacing, hot rolling the continuously cast strip at casting speed in a temperature range between 300.degree. C. and the non-equilibrium solidus temperature of the alloy with the total reduction in excess of 70% and finally coiling the hot strip and allowing it to cool in air to room temperature so as to produce a metal strip having properties favorable for subsequent cold rolling operations. The second operation comprises an improved cold rolling operation in which a brief heat treatment at 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. for not more than 90 seconds is introduced between a first and second cold rolling operation.

Process for preparing low earing aluminum alloy strip on strip casting

A composition and method whereby aluminum scrap, including consumer scrap, is recycled into aluminum sheet and aluminum containers. Aluminum scrap is melted in a heated furnace to form a melt composition. The melt is adjusted to form the present composition, consisting essentially of silicon, 0.1-1.0%; iron 0.1-0.9%; manganese 0.4-1.0%; magnesium 1.3-2.5%; copper 0.05-0.4%; and titanium, 0-0.2%, the balance being essentially aluminum. Aluminum scrap comprising consumer scrap, plant scrap, and can making scrap is heated to form the melt composition, which requires a minimum amount of adjustment to arrive at the present alloy composition. The composition is then cast and fabricated into sheet having strength and formability properties making it suitable for container manufacture. Container manufacture according to the process and composition of the present invention comprises drawn-and-ironed can body manufacture and easy-opening end manufacture. Sheet fabrication according to the present invention comprises continuously casting the molten composition to produce a moving strip; hot rolling the moving strip at casting speed; coiling and allowing the hot rolled strip to cool; and cold rolling the hot rolled strip to final gauge.

Continuous strip casting of aluminum alloy from scrap aluminum for

A process involving a static mixer for the continuous production of metal alloys is such that molten metal is passed through a filter bed of loose particulate material exposed to atmospheric pressure. The alloying addition is made to the metal via a proportioning and feed device as the metal enters the filter bed. As a result the alloy components are dissolved in the molten metal and, due to the repeated division and reuniting of the streams of charge in the bed, the alloying elements are mixed with the metal before leaving the mixing chamber. The degree of mixing can be changed by changing the size of particles in the granular bed.

Static mixer for the production of metal alloys

The sodium content of aluminum melt is reduced efficiently to within acceptable limits by filtering the primary metal from the electrolytic cell through a loosely packed filter bed of granular material which in part comprises carbon. The treatment is carried out before alloy additions are made, and the temperature of the melt before entering the filter is higher than 780.degree. C.

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Sierre, Switzerland

Kurt Buxmann