Solidification study of Cu-based alloys obtained by continuous casting

Commercial production of copper by continuous casting in a wheel-and-band m achine, with suitable modifications to induce high undercooling, is conside red. Impurities control to a large extent the microstructure and mechanical properties of the ingot. Suitable solute additives in the molten alloy to achieve constitutional supercooling during solidification have been analyze d, with particular emphasis on the presence of lead. Experimental informati on on the Cu-O-Pb phase diagram has been revised and modeling of the micros tructure evolution as a function of several casting parameters is being pre sented. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.