Crystallographic texture development of twin-roll cast aluminum strips

As compared to the traditional hot mill process, the relatively low capital cost of twin-roll casters, in combination with their lower energy and labor costs, have made twin-roll casting an increasingly popular method of producing a wide range of aluminum flat rolled products. In the highly competitive global market environment, the lower conversion cost advantages of twin-roll casting make it particularly attractive for the manufacturing of fin and foil products. Major challenge in this method is to reduce the casting gauge below 3 mm. Decrease in casting gauge is expected to result in higher load exerted on the cast sheet. This occurs in the "hot rolling" phase of the casting at the roll bite. Although there exists a limited plastic deformation, it would not be surprising to introduce a crystallographic texture to the sheet. Present study investigates the crystallographic texture development of as-cast aluminum twin-rolls, as the gauge is reduced from 5 to 1.80 mm. Pole figures are employed to characterize the dominant texture of the twin-roll. Casting width of the strips are 2,200 mm for all the gauges. Macro and microstructural studies, along with the mechanical characterization, are also carried out on the samples.