Strip casting of pure magnesium and an AZ31 magnesium alloy by the melt drag process

Magnesium is the lightest structural material, so that it will be possessed to diffuse in future. But its formability, which is poor at room temperature, is an obstacle. Continuous strip casting process is well suited to make strip of such materials. In this study, we made an attempt to apply the melt drag process, which is kind of single roll continuous strip casting process, for production of pure magnesium and magnesium alloy AZ31 strip. Melt magnesium is very activated, and we designed experimental apparatus for melt magnesium. Fine strip of pure magnesium was cast in the range of roll speed: 5∼20 m/min, and the strip thickness was 1.4∼2.4 mm. AZ31 fine strip was cast in the range of 5∼30 m/min, the strip thickness was 0.6∼1.6 mm. Roll speed much affected the strip thickness in low roll speed. And the thinner strip thickness is, the more refining grain size is.