Direct chill casting under protective atmosphere
AssigneeAluminum Company of America
InventorsJohn E. Jacoby, Ho Yu, Robert A. Ramser
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Abstract
A method for continuously casting lithium-containing alloys by a direct chill process includes cooling the alloy to form a continuous ingot having a solid shell, further cooling the ingot by direct chill with an organic coolant, and inhibiting fire by covering the coolant with fire retardant atmosphere.
Claims20
A method of continuously casting a lithium-containing alloy comprising:
- cooling a lithium-containing alloy sufficiently to form a continuous ingot having a substantially solid shell;
- cooling said ingot by direct chill with an organic coolant;
- and
- inhibiting fire by covering said coolant with fire retardant atmosphere.
In a process for continuously casting a metal alloy comprising cooling molten alloy in a shell-forming zone and further cooling said alloy by direct chill with a coolant to form a continuous ingot, the improvement comprising:
- casting lithium-containing alloy;
- performing said direct chill cooling with a coolant comprising a modified hydrocarbon coolant;
- and
- inhibiting fire associated with said coolant by incorporating fire retardant atmosphere covering said coolant.
A process for continuously casting an aluminum alloy containing over about 1.5% by weight lithium into a solidified ingot having a smallest transverse dimension greater than about six inches, comprising:
- initiating solidification of liquid alloy into an ingot in a continuous casting mold;
- direct chill cooling said ingot with a coolant comprising an organic coolant and a moisture content less than an amount predetermined to avoid explosions during said casting operation, said coolant being applied to the surface of said ingot and separating therefrom;
- collecting said coolant separating from said ingot in a collection pool;
- inhibiting fire by covering said coolant with a protective atmosphere;
- and
- recirculating said coolant from said collection pool for further direct chill cooling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.