The Benefits of Ultrasonic Treatment of Molten Metal for Slabs Casting at UC RUSAL Facilities

The paper presents the possibility of ultrasonic treatment to refine large slabs of 5052 aluminum alloy in direct chill casting. Combined modification with grain refiner rod AlTi5%B1% and exposure of the melt flow to a powerful cavitation effect has been found to decrease consumption of the refiner rod maintaining at the same time structural characteristics and enhanced melt degassing efficiency. Under conditions of industrial production of aluminum alloy slabs the up-to-date ultrasonic equipment has been shown to allow to match the multimold casting process with no substantial cost.