Casting of wire-inserted composite aluminum alloy strip using a twin roll caster

Wire-inserted composite strip could be cast using a twin toll caster. In the present study, the effects of the melt temperature and diameter of the wire on the fabrication of the wire-inserted strip were investigated. A downward melt drag twin roll caster was used. The matrix was 1050 aluminum alloy, and mild steel wire was inserted. The wire was neither preheated nor coated. The fabrication of the wire-inserted composite strip became possible and reliable when the melt temperature became higher. Thicker wire could be inserted as the roll speed became lower. When the roll speed was 10, 20 and 30 m/min, the thickest wire that could be inserted was 0.8, 0.6 and 0.5 mm, respectively. The reaction between the wire and the matrix decreased as the roll speed became higher and the melt temperature became lower. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.