Grain size of a deliverable metal product can be improved by pre-setting recrystallization-suppressing dispersoids during casting. The outer regions of a direct chill cast embryonic ingot can undergo reheating before casting is complete. Through unique wiper placement and/or other reheating techniques, the temperature of the ingot can be permitted to reheat (e.g., up to approximately 410° C. to approximately 420° C.), allowing dispersoids to form. Stirring and/or agitation of the molten sump can facilitate formation of a deeper sump and desirably fine grain size as-cast. The formation of dispersoids during and/or immediately after casting can pin the grain boundaries at the desirably fine grain size, encouraging the same grain sizes even after a later recrystallization and/or solutionizing step.

Grain size of a deliverable metal product can be improved by pre-setting recrystallization-suppressing dispersoids during casting. The outer regions of a direct chill cast embryonic ingot can undergo reheating before casting is complete. Through unique wiper placement and/or other reheating techniques, the temperature of the ingot can be permitted to reheat (e.g., up to approximately 410° C. to approximately 420° C.), allowing dispersoids to form. Stirring and/or agitation of the molten sump can facilitate formation of a deeper sump and desirably fine grain size as-cast. The formation of dispersoids during and/or immediately after casting can pin the grain boundaries at the desirably fine grain size, encouraging the same grain sizes even after a later recrystallization and/or solutionizing step.

Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.

Systems and associated methods are provided for controlling the shape of an ingot head during formation. At the end of a cast, prior to forming the ingot head, chill bars or other cooling structure may be lowered into an ingot mold and define a reduced casting footprint for forming the ingot head. Supplemental molten metal may be fed into the reduced casting footprint, and the chill bars may be moved laterally towards the center of the ingot, further reducing the casting footprint. As additional molten metal fills the reduced mold footprint, the ingot may be lowered relative to the chill bars to further increase the height of the ingot head. Additional molten metal may be added until the desired shape of the ingot head is formed.

[Object] There are provided a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus that obtain a high-quality conductive metal sheet in a short time.

[Solution] The invention includes: applying a magnetic field to the raw material or the pre-product in a thickness direction by a magnetic field unit including permanent magnets; making alternating current flow in at least one of the raw material and molten metal of the pre-product so that the alternating current intersects the magnetic field in at least the front and the rear of a lengthwise direction of the magnetic field unit; and applying vibration to at least one of the raw material and the molten metal of the pre-product by an electromagnetic force generated due to the intersection to modify the molten metal and form the conductive metal sheet in which all of the molten metal is solidified.

[Object] There are provided a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus that obtain a high-quality conductive metal sheet in a short time.

[Solution] The invention includes: applying a magnetic field to the raw material or the pre-product in a thickness direction by a magnetic field unit including permanent magnets; making alternating current flow in at least one of the raw material and molten metal of the pre-product so that the alternating current intersects the magnetic field in at least the front and the rear of a lengthwise direction of the magnetic field unit; and applying vibration to at least one of the raw material and the molten metal of the pre-product by an electromagnetic force generated due to the intersection to modify the molten metal and form the conductive metal sheet in which all of the molten metal is solidified.

Disclosed is a continuous rapid solidification apparatus, which comprises a cooling roll configured to cool a molten metal supplied to an outer circumference surface thereof; a crucible configured to supply the cooling roll with the molten metal; a molten metal supply configured to melt a raw material metal and supply the crucible with the molten metal; a first chamber configured to form a sealed space where the molten metal supplied from the crucible is cooled by the cooling roll; and a second chamber configured to be formed of a space separated from the first chamber and to form a sealed space where the molten metal is supplied to the crucible by the molten metal supply.

Disclosed is a continuous rapid solidification apparatus, which comprises a cooling roll configured to cool a molten metal supplied to an outer circumference surface thereof; a crucible configured to supply the cooling roll with the molten metal; a molten metal supply configured to melt a raw material metal and supply the crucible with the molten metal; a first chamber configured to form a sealed space where the molten metal supplied from the crucible is cooled by the cooling roll; and a second chamber configured to be formed of a space separated from the first chamber and to form a sealed space where the molten metal is supplied to the crucible by the molten metal supply.

A device for the production of a metallic strip using a rapid solidification technology is provided. The device includes a movable heat sink with an external surface onto which a melt is poured and on which the melt solidifies to produce the strip, and which device includes a rolling device which can be pressed against the external surface of the movable heat sink while the heat sink is in motion.

A device for the production of a metallic strip using a rapid solidification technology is provided. The device includes a movable heat sink with an external surface onto which a melt is poured and on which the melt solidifies to produce the strip, and which device includes a rolling device which can be pressed against the external surface of the movable heat sink while the heat sink is in motion.