Interfacial pressure distribution and bonding characteristics in twin-roll casting of Cu/Al clad strip

The mechanical properties and product thickness specifications of bimetallic clad strip prepared by twin-roll casting are tightly related to the mechanical behavior of bonding interface interaction. The thermal−flow coupled simulation and the interface pressure calculation models are established with the cast-rolling velocity as the variable. The results show that the interface temperature decreases, the interface pressure and the proportion of the thickness of the Al side increase with the decrease in cast-rolling velocity. The thinning of Cu strip mainly occurs in the backward slip zone. The higher pressure and longer solid/semi-solid contact time make the interface bonded fully, which provides favorable conditions for atomic diffusion. The inter-diffusion zone with a width of 4.9 μm is attained at a cast-rolling velocity of 2.4 m/min, and the Cu side surface is nearly completely covered by aluminum. Therefore, the ductile fracture occurs on the Al side, which prevents the propagation of interface delamination cracks effectively. Meanwhile, shear effect becomes more significant at high interfacial pressure and large plastic strain, and the microstructure on Al side is composed of slender columnar crystals. Thus, the metallurgical bonding and refinement of grains on the Al side can result in higher bonding strength and tensile properties of the clad strip.