Characterization of surface defects encountered in twin roll cast aluminum strips

Solidification mechanism in twin roll casting (TRC) technique provides various advantages for the production of aluminum alloys having narrow solidification range. High production volume in casting, reduced cost of rolling due to the gauge of initial material to be rolled and elimination of some other intermediate processes are among those. However, alloys having wide solidification range is in tendency of creating serious surface defects. They can readily deteriorate mechanical performance and results in severe complications not only in demanding applications, but also in ordinary engineering applications. If exposed to a surface treatment, they can be easily revealed by resulting in impairment of the aesthetic appearance. Present study aims microstructural characterization of surface defects created in TRC technique and their affects on some critical applications. 5000 and 3000 series aluminum alloys produced for demanding applications and 8000 series alloys for packaging industry form the subject of this study.