Effects of twin-roll casting process parameters on the microstructure and sheet metal forming behavior of 7050 aluminum alloy

In the present study, strips of 7050 aluminum alloys were cast using twin roll casting technology (TRC) where roll casting speed, roll gap, cooling water flow rate and initial cooling water temperature were varied. The optimized process parameters and their effects on TRC of 7050 aluminum alloys strips were investigated. The optimized process parameters and properties were obtained to be roll gap of 1.8 mm, roll casting speed of 11.4 m/min (12 r/min), cooling water flow rate of 11.1 m(3)/h and initial cooling water temperature of 20.8 degrees C. The macro morphology, microstructure, hardness and yield stress of the strips were investigated using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) and Vickers hardness. The homogeneous microstructures and improved mechanical properties were obtained by increasing the roll casting speed and roll gap thickness. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.