Effects of substrate surface conditions on heat transfer and shell morphology in the solidification of a copper alloy

The effect of substrate surface conditions on the heat transfer and morphol ogy of solidifying shells of a copper alloy has been characterized by a ser ies of dip tests. Results showed that in the early stages of solidification , rough and grooved surface conditions provide a greater heat transfer than polished ones. The shells solidified on rough and grooved surfaces had sig nificant localized variations in thickness, indicating that heat transfer a t the substrate-metal interface was not uniform. The implication of these r esults on strip casting is discussed.