TABLE OF CONTENTS Depending on the nature of the process, strip casting produces material with a gauge thickness of over 10 mm to less than 0.8 mm ( 3.2.3). In twin roll casting, thin gauge strip (< 2 mm for steel and 2-12 mm for aluminium) is produced at high solidification rates to generate a range of non-equilibrium microstructures (chapter 5). In moving belt/block casting processes such as the Hazelett (Figure 3.9) and Alusuisse caster II (Figure 3.10), the as-cast strip is up to 40 mm thick and the solidification rates are lower than TRC. Nevertheless, a common feature of all materials produced by high speed casting is the presence, to some degree, of micro- and macrosegregation, porosity and undissolved second-phase constituents. The as-cast strip therefore has a particular microstructure and surface condition which may or may not be suitable for immediate fabrication into the desired component. It may be necessary to further modify the strip to some degree by hot and/or cold rolling and/or thermal processing in order to alter the strip dimensions, internal structure and surface condition. This chapter provides an overview of these secondary processing routes and discusses other possible options for structural/surface modification to enhance the final properties of the material.
One of the critical challenges for near net shape casting (NNSC) processes such as DSC is the restricted secondary processing window available for modifying the as-cast microstructure and surface condition of the strip. For example, conventional continuous casting produces thick slab that...
