Single-crystal Continuous Casting Apparatus And Preparation Of Single Crystal Copper

The technology of single-crystal continuous casting process (SCC), which integrates advanced directional solidification with high efficiency continuous casting, is a new near-net-shape processing technology. This technology can produce excellent cold working ingots and sectional materials with complex cross-section or difficult formation. The single crystal copper wires with outstanding mechanical properties and conductivity have been widely used in the fields of electronic communication, network, audio and video equipments, and national defense. In this paper, we designed, developed, and fabricated a set of SCC apparatus, by which single crystal copper wires 8mm in diameter have been produced, according to the single crystal continuous casting fundamental.The main results and conclusions of this paper are:1. A pilot-scale SCC apparatus is self-designed and made, which holds the characteristics of simple constitution, mechanism stability and reasonable control or modification of main process variables, and meets the necessity.2. In this process, the surface quality of copper wires is decided by the location of the solid/liquid interface, which is mainly affected by mould temperature, casting speed, metal head, and cooling ability. When mould temperature and casting speed increased, cooling ability decreased and metal head enlarged, the location of the solid/liquid interface moves towards the exit of the heated mould.3. The structure evolution in the SCC , the naturally selecting process of grains, iscorrelated with the profile of solid/liquid interface which is the necessary condition that the SCC is succeeded in implementing. The profile of solid/liquid interface is mainly affected by mould temperature, casting speed, and cooling ability, but the most obvious factor is casting speed,4. The elongation and reduction of cross-section of single crystal copper increase 74.4% and 358.5%, and the resistivity decrease 13.4% than these of polycrystal copper .The results show that the capabilities of the single crystal copper are superior to these of common polycrystal copper. So the single crystal copper can become the excellent cold working ingots and conductive materials.