High speed roll casting of Mg alloy strip by a vertical type twin roll caster

Purpose: The possibility of high speed roll casting of AZ31, AM60 and AZ91 was investigated. Warm deep drawing of roll cast magnesium alloy was operated. and formability of roll cast magnesium strip was cleared. Design/methodology/approach: A vertical type high speed twin roll caster was used. The roll casting was operated in the air atmosphere. The casting speed was from 60 m/min up to 180 m/min. Low temperature casting was adopted to realize high speed casting. Findings: Strip thinner 3 mm with 100 width could be cast continuously. The casting ability became better with increasing content of Al. Roll cast Mg alloy strips could be hot-rolled down to 0.5 mm. AZ31 as-cast strip could be thinner down to 0.5 mm only by three times of hot rolling. Deep drawing was operated with three kinds of Mg alloy at 250°C, and LDR value was larger than 2.0. It was shown that deep drawing of AZ91 alloy for casting was possible. Research limitations/implications: There was tendency that cracks occurred at the center in the thickness direction as Al content increased. Practical implications: Sheet metal forming of magnesium alloy with high content Al can be realized. Originality/value: It was shown that possibility of high speed roll casting of magnesium alloy, and warm deep drawing of roll cast AZ91 strip.