Twin-roll casting 8011 aluminium alloy strips under ultrasonic energy field

Abstract The ultrasonic energy field was applied during the twin-roll casting of 8011 aluminium alloy. The effects of ultrasonic vibration treatment on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the 8011 strips were investigated by means of metallographic microscope observation, scanning electron microscope observation, electron backscattered diffraction and mechanical properties test. The average grain size of the strips decreased from ∼90 μm to ∼70 μm and the maximum density of texture decreased from 19.4 to 15. The content of Fe and Si in the precipitated phases decreased from 12.1% to 6.79%–6.4% and 1.78%, and the segregation phenomenon was restrained effectively. What's more, the mechanical properties of the strips were enhanced: the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation increased by 5.83%, 13.04% and 4.2%, respectively.