A continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys

Abstract

This invention discloses a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys, relating to the field of metallurgical engineering technology, comprising the following steps: (a) heating the copper matrix containing tin, zinc, and nickel, and adding appropriate amounts of rare earth elements, in a melting furnace to 1200-1300°C until a uniform copper alloy melt is formed; (b) maintaining the copper alloy melt in an optimal casting temperature range of 1150-1200°C using a holding furnace with temperature control function; (c) continuously casting the held copper alloy melt into long strip billets using a continuous casting machine equipped with an electromagnetic stirring device. The technical solution provided by this invention ensures the fluidity and purity of the copper alloy melt, significantly reduces inclusions using electromagnetic stirring technology, effectively promotes uniform solid solution of alloying elements and the formation of fine, dispersed strengthening phases, introduces a homogenization treatment stage, eliminates component segregation, and improves the uniformity of the material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of metallurgical engineering technology, and in particular to a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional continuous casting and rolling processes for copper alloys have many shortcomings, such as uneven alloy composition distribution, numerous inclusions, and poor heat treatment effects, resulting in the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the final products failing to meet the requirements of high-standard applications.

[0003] In traditional processes, the melting temperature control is not precise enough, and the temperature control range of the holding furnace is too wide, making it difficult to ensure the optimal fluidity and purity of the melt. The lack of effective stirring methods during continuous casting leads to uneven distribution of alloying elements. Furthermore, heat treatment processes are often not refined enough to effectively control changes in the material's microstructure, thus affecting the material's overall performance. During rolling, the lack of efficient lubricants and precise parameter control makes it difficult to achieve optimal dimensional accuracy and surface finish. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys, so as to solve the problems in the background art.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys, comprising the following steps:

[0006] (a) The copper matrix contains 2-5% tin by weight, 1-3% zinc by weight, and 0.5-2% nickel by weight, and an appropriate amount of rare earth elements are added. The above components are heated in a smelting furnace to 1200-1300°C until a uniform copper alloy melt is formed.

[0007] (b) The copper alloy melt is kept within the optimal pouring temperature range of 1150-1200°C by using a holding furnace with temperature control function;

[0008] (c) Using a continuous casting machine equipped with an electromagnetic stirring device, the heat-preserved copper alloy melt is continuously cast into long strip billets with a thickness range of 5-20 mm.

[0009] (d) The billet is immediately subjected to online heat treatment, including short-term holding at the solution temperature and then rapid cooling of the billet by water spraying;

[0010] (e) The cooled billet is continuously fed into a continuous rolling mill for multiple passes of continuous rolling;

[0011] (f) Use synthetic oil lubricant with high thermal stability throughout the rolling process and add anti-wear additives;

[0012] (g) The final product is a copper alloy.

[0013] Optionally, the copper alloy may also contain no more than 0.2% magnesium and 0.1% titanium as grain-refining additives to improve the alloy’s mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

[0014] Optionally, the online heat treatment step further includes a homogenization stage, in which the billet is heated to 550-650°C and held for at least 2 hours to eliminate component segregation and improve the uniformity of the material.

[0015] Optionally, the synthetic oil lubricant is preheated before use and maintained at a suitable operating temperature of 60-80°C during rolling through a circulating cooling system.

[0016] Optionally, the solution temperature in step (d) is 850-950℃, and the short-term holding time is 1-5 minutes.

[0017] Optionally, laminar flow cooling is used in step (d) to cool the billet by spraying water.

[0018] Optionally, the electromagnetic stirring device of the continuous casting machine adopts multi-band electromagnetic stirring technology, which stirs at different frequencies to adapt to melts with different alloy compositions.

[0019] Optionally, the anti-wear additive is a phosphide or chloride.

[0020] Optionally, the continuous casting machine employs dual-flow or multi-flow continuous casting technology during the casting process, that is, simultaneously casting two or more parallel copper alloy billets in the same casting machine.

[0021] Optionally, an online annealing process can be performed after rolling, which enables rapid annealing of copper alloy products on a continuous production line.

[0022] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0023] This invention discloses a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys. By controlling the melting and holding temperatures, the fluidity and purity of the copper alloy melt are ensured. Electromagnetic stirring technology significantly reduces inclusions and improves the uniform distribution of alloying elements. Optimized online heat treatment processes, including solution treatment and rapid cooling, effectively promote the uniform solution of alloying elements and the formation of fine, dispersed strengthening phases. The introduction of a homogenization stage eliminates component segregation and improves material uniformity. The use of an automated control system to dynamically adjust parameters during the continuous rolling process improves dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties.

[0024] By employing highly efficient and stable synthetic oil lubricants and anti-wear additives, the coefficient of friction is reduced and the surface finish is improved. Through online annealing, the plasticity and toughness of the material are restored and internal stress is reduced. Overall, this invention can significantly improve the quality and performance of high-strength copper alloy products and meet the needs of high-end applications.

[0025] These features and advantages of the present invention will be disclosed in detail in the following specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a process flow diagram of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0030] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0031] The following describes in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] For easier understanding, please refer to Figure 1 An embodiment of a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys provided by the present invention includes the following steps:

[0034] (a) The copper matrix contains 2-5% tin by weight, 1-3% zinc by weight, and 0.5-2% nickel by weight, and an appropriate amount of rare earth elements are added to enhance the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the alloy. The above components are heated in a melting furnace to 1200-1300°C until a uniform copper alloy melt is formed.

[0035] (b) The copper alloy melt is kept in the optimal pouring temperature range of 1150-1200°C by a holding furnace with temperature control function to ensure the fluidity and purity of the melt;

[0036] (c) Using a continuous casting machine equipped with an electromagnetic stirring device, the heat-preserved copper alloy melt is continuously cast into long strip billets. Electromagnetic stirring helps to reduce inclusions and improve the uniform distribution of alloying elements. The billet thickness ranges from 5 to 20 mm.

[0037] (d) The billet is immediately subjected to online heat treatment, including short-term holding at the solution temperature and then rapid cooling of the billet by water spraying;

[0038] (e) The cooled billet is continuously fed into the continuous rolling mill for multiple passes of continuous rolling. During this process, the rolling parameters (such as roll gap pressure, rolling speed, etc.) are dynamically adjusted by the automated control system to obtain the required dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties.

[0039] (f) Use synthetic oil lubricant with high thermal stability throughout the rolling process and add anti-wear additives to reduce the coefficient of friction and improve surface finish.

[0040] (g) The final product is a copper alloy.

[0041] In some embodiments, the copper alloy further contains no more than 0.2% magnesium and 0.1% titanium as grain-refining additives to improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the alloy, while optimizing its processing performance.

[0042] In some embodiments, the online heat treatment step further includes a homogenization stage in which the billet is heated to 550-650°C and held for at least 2 hours to eliminate component segregation and improve the uniformity of the material, thereby improving the overall performance of the final product.

[0043] The synthetic oil lubricant is preheated before use and maintained at a suitable working temperature of 60-80°C during rolling through a circulating cooling system to improve lubrication and extend service life.

[0044] The solution treatment temperature in step (d) is 850-950℃, and the short-term holding time is 1-5 minutes. The cooling method for the blank in step (d) by spraying water is laminar flow cooling.

[0045] The electromagnetic stirring device of the continuous casting machine adopts multi-band electromagnetic stirring technology, stirring at different frequencies to adapt to melts with different alloy compositions, and controlling the melt fluidity and composition uniformity by adjusting the frequency.

[0046] The anti-wear additive is a phosphide or chloride.

[0047] The continuous casting machine employs dual-flow or multi-flow continuous casting technology during the casting process, that is, simultaneously casting two or more parallel copper alloy billets in the same casting machine to improve production efficiency, and ensuring the consistency of the quality of the billets in each flow by precisely controlling the distance and temperature between each flow.

[0048] After rolling, an online annealing process is performed. This process enables rapid annealing of copper alloy products on a continuous production line to restore the material's plasticity and toughness, while reducing internal stress and ensuring that the mechanical properties of the final product meet the requirements.

[0049] It should be noted that, firstly, copper is weighed as the base material, and tin, zinc, nickel, and appropriate amounts of rare earth elements are added at a weight ratio of 2-5%. These components are then added to a melting furnace and heated to 1200-1300℃ until all components are completely dissolved and uniformly mixed to form a copper alloy melt.

[0050] The molten copper alloy is then transferred to a temperature-controlled holding furnace, where it is maintained within the optimal pouring temperature range of 1150-1200℃. This step ensures the melt has good fluidity and purity, facilitating subsequent continuous casting.

[0051] Next, using a continuous casting machine equipped with an electromagnetic stirring device, the held-temperature copper alloy melt is continuously cast into long strip billets. Electromagnetic stirring technology helps reduce inclusions in the melt and improves the uniform distribution of alloying elements. The billet thickness should be between 5-20 mm.

[0052] Immediately following this, the billet obtained from continuous casting undergoes online heat treatment. First, it is held at a solution temperature of 850-950℃ for a short period of 1-5 minutes; then, it is rapidly cooled using laminar flow cooling technology with water spray. In addition, the online heat treatment includes a homogenization stage, where the billet is heated to 550-650℃ and held for at least 2 hours to eliminate component segregation and improve material uniformity.

[0053] The cooled billet is then fed directly into a continuous rolling mill for multi-pass rolling. During this process, an automated control system dynamically adjusts parameters such as roll gap pressure and rolling speed to ensure the final product meets dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties requirements. To improve surface finish and reduce the coefficient of friction, a high-thermal-stability synthetic oil lubricant is used, with added anti-wear additives such as phosphides or chlorides. The synthetic oil lubricant is preheated before use and maintained at an operating temperature of 60-80°C during rolling via a circulating cooling system.

[0054] During continuous casting, multi-frequency electromagnetic stirring technology is used to adapt to melts with different alloy compositions. By adjusting the frequency, the fluidity and compositional uniformity of the melt are controlled. Meanwhile, to improve production efficiency, the continuous casting machine employs dual-strand or multi-strand continuous casting technology, which involves simultaneously casting two or more parallel copper alloy billets in the same casting machine, and precisely controlling the distance and temperature between each strand to ensure consistent quality of the billets from each strand.

[0055] Finally, the copper alloy products after continuous rolling also need to undergo an online annealing process. This process can quickly anneal the products to restore the plasticity and toughness of the material, while reducing internal stress and ensuring that the mechanical properties of the final product meet the design requirements.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] Please refer to Figure 1 This invention provides a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys, with the following specific steps:

[0058] (a) Select aluminum as the matrix material, and add 4-6% by weight of silicon, 0.5-1.5% by weight of magnesium, and 0.2-0.7% by weight of manganese as the main alloying elements, as well as trace amounts of scandium (Sc) and zirconium (Zr) to further enhance the strength and toughness of the material. Heat these components in a melting furnace to 700-750°C until a uniform aluminum alloy melt is formed.

[0059] (b) Transfer the aluminum alloy melt to a holding furnace and control the temperature between 680-720°C to ensure the fluidity and purity of the melt and prepare for subsequent casting.

[0060] (c) Continuous casting is carried out using a continuous casting equipment with an electromagnetic stirring device. Electromagnetic stirring helps to eliminate bubbles and non-metallic inclusions, ensuring that the internal structure of the billet is dense. The billet thickness is set between 10-25 mm.

[0061] (d) Immediately perform online solution treatment on the cast billet, including holding at 520-540℃ for 10-20 minutes, and then rapidly cooling it by air cooling to promote uniform solution of alloying elements;

[0062] (e) The cooled billet is then fed into a continuous rolling mill for multiple passes of continuous rolling. During this process, an automated control system is used to monitor and adjust key parameters such as reduction and rolling speed to achieve the required dimensional tolerances and mechanical properties.

[0063] (f) During the rolling process, ester-based oils with excellent high-temperature stability are used as lubricants, and extreme pressure additives are added to reduce friction loss and improve surface quality.

[0064] (g) During the continuous casting process, the electromagnetic stirring device adopts adjustable frequency technology to dynamically adjust the stirring frequency according to the melt characteristics in order to optimize the melt composition distribution;

[0065] (h) The continuous casting machine adopts single-flow or multi-flow technology to increase output, while ensuring the consistency of the billets in each flow through precise temperature and flow rate control;

[0066] (i) After continuous rolling, the product is subjected to online recovery treatment to restore some of the material’s plasticity and reduce internal stress caused by work hardening;

[0067] (j) The resulting aluminum alloy products have excellent mechanical properties and are suitable for high-standard applications such as manufacturing aircraft structural components.

[0068] In some embodiments, the aluminum alloy also contains no more than 0.3% lithium (Li) as a weight-reducing element and no more than 0.1% titanium (Ti) as a grain refiner to further improve the strength and lightweight properties of the material.

[0069] In some embodiments, the online solution treatment step further includes an additional aging stage, where the billet is held at 160-180°C for at least 8 hours to further strengthen the material and enhance its hardness and rigidity through precipitated phases. The ester-based lubricant needs to be preheated to 40-50°C before use and maintained at a constant temperature throughout the rolling process to ensure lubricant effectiveness and extend its service life. The electromagnetic stirring device of the continuous casting machine automatically adjusts the stirring frequency by monitoring the melt state in real time, ensuring uniform distribution of alloying elements and reducing the influence of oxides and other impurities.

[0070] Example 3

[0071] This invention provides a novel continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength steel, the specific steps of which are as follows:

[0072] (a) First, select low carbon steel as the base material, and add 0.8-1.2% carbon (C), 0.5-1.5% manganese (Mn), 0.2-0.5% chromium (Cr), 0.1-0.3% molybdenum (Mo), and trace amounts of vanadium (V) and niobium (Nb) in an electric arc furnace. Heat these components in an electric arc furnace to 1550-1600°C until a homogeneous molten steel is formed.

[0073] (b) The molten steel is transferred to a tundish with precise temperature control to maintain the temperature at 1500-1550°C to ensure good casting conditions;

[0074] (c) Using a continuous casting machine equipped with an online electromagnetic purification system, the molten steel in the tundish is continuously cast into long strip slabs. The electromagnetic purification system helps to remove non-metallic inclusions from the molten steel. The slab thickness range is set to 20-50 mm.

[0075] (d) The slab is immediately subjected to online heat treatment, including holding at the austenitizing temperature of 880-920℃ for 5-10 minutes, followed by rapid cooling through a high-pressure water curtain to obtain a fine and uniform pearlitic structure.

[0076] (e) The cooled slab is fed into a continuous rolling mill for multi-pass rolling. During the rolling process, the reduction rate, rolling speed and temperature are dynamically adjusted by an advanced computer control system to achieve the required product specifications and mechanical properties.

[0077] (f) Use synthetic ester oil lubricant with excellent thermal stability and oxidation resistance throughout the rolling process, and add special anti-wear agents, such as sulfides or borates, to reduce friction and improve surface quality;

[0078] (g) The continuous casting machine adopts multi-strand continuous casting technology, which ensures the uniformity and consistency of each strand of billet by precisely controlling the distance and temperature between the strands, thereby improving production efficiency;

[0079] (h) After rolling, the product is subjected to online controlled cooling treatment to further optimize the microstructure and improve the strength and toughness of the steel;

[0080] (i) The resulting high-strength steel can be used in fields such as bridge construction and heavy machinery manufacturing.

[0081] In some embodiments, the high-strength steel may also contain no more than 0.05% boron (B) as a microalloying element and no more than 0.1% nitrogen (N) as a solid solution strengthening element to enhance the hardenability and mechanical properties of the material.

[0082] In some embodiments, the online heat treatment step further includes a controlled cooling stage, during which the grain size can be refined and the overall mechanical properties of the material can be improved by adjusting the cooling rate. The synthetic ester oil lubricant is preheated to 50-60°C before use and maintained at a constant temperature during rolling using a closed-loop cooling system to ensure lubrication effectiveness and extend the lubricant's service life. The electromagnetic purification system of the continuous casting machine can effectively remove inclusions from the molten steel, improving the purity of the finished product and thus enhancing the material's fatigue life and ductility.

[0083] Example 4

[0084] Further improvements to the continuous casting and rolling process of high-strength copper alloys are now provided, including an embodiment containing more alloying elements, with the specific steps as follows:

[0085] (a) Select copper as the base material, and add tin at a weight ratio of 2-5%, zinc at a weight ratio of 1-3%, and nickel at a weight ratio of 0.5-2%. At the same time, add cobalt (Co) at a weight ratio of 0.1-0.3% to improve hardness and wear resistance, silver (Ag) at a weight ratio of 0.05-0.1% to enhance electrical conductivity and thermal stability, and add appropriate amounts of rare earth elements to enhance the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the alloy. Heat the above components in a melting furnace to 1200-1300°C until a uniform copper alloy melt is formed.

[0086] (b) The copper alloy melt is kept in the optimal pouring temperature range of 1150-1200°C by a holding furnace with temperature control function to ensure the fluidity and purity of the melt;

[0087] (c) Using a continuous casting machine equipped with an electromagnetic stirring device, the heat-preserved copper alloy melt is continuously cast into long strip billets. Electromagnetic stirring helps to reduce inclusions and improve the uniform distribution of alloying elements. The billet thickness ranges from 5 to 20 mm.

[0088] (d) The billet is immediately subjected to online heat treatment, including short-term heat treatment at a solution temperature of 850-950°C, and then rapid cooling of the billet by water spraying;

[0089] (e) The cooled billet is continuously fed into the continuous rolling mill for multiple passes of continuous rolling. During this process, the rolling parameters (such as roll gap pressure, rolling speed, etc.) are dynamically adjusted by the automated control system to obtain the required dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties.

[0090] (f) Use synthetic oil lubricant with high thermal stability throughout the rolling process and add anti-wear additives to reduce the coefficient of friction and improve surface finish.

[0091] (g) The final copper alloy also contains no more than 0.2% magnesium and 0.1% titanium as grain-refining additives to improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the alloy, while optimizing the processing performance of the alloy.

[0092] (h) The solution treatment temperature in step (d) is 850-950℃, and the short-term holding time is 1-5 minutes. The cooling method for the billet in step (d) by spraying water is laminar flow cooling.

[0093] (i) In the continuous casting process, in addition to adopting multi-frequency electromagnetic stirring technology, a dynamic temperature compensation system is also added to adapt to melts with different alloy compositions, and the melt fluidity and composition uniformity are controlled by adjusting the frequency.

[0094] (j) Based on the use of dual-flow or multi-flow continuous casting technology in the continuous casting process, an online composition detection system has been introduced to monitor changes in alloy composition in real time and ensure the consistency and stability of composition.

[0095] (k) In the online annealing process after continuous rolling, in addition to restoring the plasticity and toughness of the material, a controlled cooling stage is added to refine the grains and improve the overall mechanical properties of the material by adjusting the cooling rate;

[0096] (l) The synthetic oil lubricant is preheated before use and maintained at a suitable working temperature of 60-80℃ during the rolling process by a circulating cooling system to improve the lubrication effect and extend the service life;

[0097] (m) The anti-wear additive, in addition to phosphides or chlorides, also contains a small amount of sulfides to further improve its anti-wear performance;

[0098] (n) Based on the multi-band electromagnetic stirring technology adopted in the electromagnetic stirring device of the continuous casting machine, an intelligent control module based on AI algorithm has been added to more accurately control the stirring frequency and optimize the melt quality.

[0099] This embodiment significantly improves the overall performance of copper alloys, making them suitable for higher-standard applications.

[0100] Comparative Example 1

[0101] refer to Figure 1 The present invention provides a comparative example of a continuous casting and rolling process for high-strength copper alloys, the specific steps of which are as follows:

[0102] (a) Select copper as the base material, and add tin at a weight ratio of 2-5%, zinc at 1-3%, nickel at 0.5-2%, and add appropriate amounts of rare earth elements, but do not add magnesium and titanium, which are grain-refining additives. Heat the above components in a melting furnace to 1200-1300°C until a uniform copper alloy melt is formed.

[0103] (b) Transfer the copper alloy melt to a holding furnace with temperature control function and maintain it at 1150-1200°C to ensure the fluidity and purity of the melt;

[0104] (c) Continuous casting is carried out using a continuous casting machine with an electromagnetic stirring device, with a billet thickness range of 5-20mm, but multi-frequency electromagnetic stirring technology is not used, but single-frequency stirring is used instead;

[0105] (d) The billet is immediately subjected to online heat treatment, including holding at a solution temperature of 850-950℃ for 1-5 minutes, and then rapidly cooled by water spraying, but the homogenization treatment stage is omitted;

[0106] (e) The cooled billet is fed into a continuous rolling mill for multi-pass continuous rolling. The rolling parameters are dynamically adjusted by an automated control system, but instead of using a synthetic oil lubricant with high thermal stability, ordinary industrial lubricant is selected.

[0107] (f) In the continuous casting process, only single-strand continuous casting technology is used instead of multi-strand continuous casting technology;

[0108] (g) The final copper alloy was not subjected to online annealing.

[0109] Comparative Example 2

[0110] To compare with the high-strength aluminum alloy continuous casting and rolling process provided in Example 2, the specific steps are as follows:

[0111] (a) Select aluminum as the base material and add 4-6% by weight of silicon, 0.5-1.5% by weight of magnesium and 0.2-0.7% by weight of manganese as the main alloying elements, but do not add scandium (Sc) and zirconium (Zr). Heat these components in a melting furnace to 700-750°C until a uniform aluminum alloy melt is formed.

[0112] (b) Transfer the molten aluminum alloy to a holding furnace and control the temperature between 680-720°C;

[0113] (c) Continuous casting was carried out using a continuous casting equipment with an electromagnetic stirring device, and the billet thickness was set between 10-25 mm, but no adjustable frequency technology was used to optimize the melt composition distribution;

[0114] (d) The billet is immediately subjected to online solution treatment, including holding at 520-540℃ for 10-20 minutes, and then rapidly cooled by air cooling, but the additional aging treatment stage is omitted;

[0115] (e) The cooled billet was then fed into a continuous rolling mill for multiple passes of continuous rolling, but instead of using ester base oil with excellent high-temperature stability as a lubricant, ordinary base oil was selected.

[0116] (f) The continuous casting machine uses only single-flow technology instead of multi-flow technology;

[0117] (g) The final aluminum alloy was not subjected to online recovery treatment.

[0118] In summary, by comparing the two comparative examples and the embodiment, the performance differences brought about by adding additional material components and adopting more advanced technologies can be clearly seen.

[0119] Working Principle: A specific ratio of copper, tin, zinc, nickel, and rare earth elements are selected as raw materials. The amount of these elements added depends on the desired final product characteristics. During the smelting process, high temperatures allow the various metal components to fully dissolve and form a homogeneous alloy melt with the copper matrix. Rare earth elements help enhance the alloy's mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. A temperature-controlled holding furnace maintains the smelted copper alloy melt within a suitable temperature range (1150-1200℃), ensuring good melt flowability and reducing the formation of oxides and other impurities. During continuous casting, electromagnetic stirring technology reduces inclusion formation and promotes the uniform distribution of alloying elements in the melt. Electromagnetic stirring influences the internal flow of the melt by changing the magnetic field strength, thereby improving casting quality. Online heat treatment includes solution treatment and rapid cooling. The former involves brief holding at 850-950℃ to dissolve second-phase particles in the alloy, while the latter uses water spray for rapid cooling, causing these particles to recrystallize and form fine, dispersed strengthening phases. In addition, homogenization treatment is used to eliminate component segregation and improve material uniformity. Continuous rolling, through multiple passes, gradually thins the billet to form products of the required shape and size. During this process, various parameters such as roll gap pressure and rolling speed need to be dynamically adjusted to ensure dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties. Simultaneously, preheated synthetic oil lubricants maintained within a specific temperature range, combined with anti-wear additives, are used to reduce friction and improve surface finish. Online annealing on a continuous production line restores the material's plasticity and toughness and reduces internal stress, thereby ensuring that the final product's mechanical properties meet expectations.

[0120] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (a) The copper matrix contains 2-5% tin by weight, 1-3% zinc by weight, and 0.5-2% nickel by weight, and an appropriate amount of rare earth elements are added. The above components are heated in a smelting furnace to 1200-1300°C until a uniform copper alloy melt is formed. (b) The copper alloy melt is kept within the optimal pouring temperature range of 1150-1200°C by using a holding furnace with temperature control function; (c) Using a continuous casting machine equipped with an electromagnetic stirring device, the heat-preserved copper alloy melt is continuously cast into long strip billets with a thickness range of 5-20 mm. (d) The billet is immediately subjected to online heat treatment, including short-term holding at the solution temperature and then rapid cooling of the billet by water spraying; (e) The cooled billet is continuously fed into a continuous rolling mill for multiple passes of continuous rolling; (f) Use synthetic oil lubricant with high thermal stability throughout the rolling process and add anti-wear additives; (g) The final product is a copper alloy.

2. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The copper alloy also contains no more than 0.2% magnesium and 0.1% titanium as grain-refining additives to improve the alloy's mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

3. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The online heat treatment step also includes a homogenization stage, in which the billet is heated to 550-650°C and held for at least 2 hours to eliminate component segregation and improve the uniformity of the material.

4. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The synthetic oil lubricant is preheated before use and maintained at a suitable working temperature of 60-80°C during the rolling process by a circulating cooling system.

5. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The solution temperature in step (d) is 850-950℃, and the short-term holding time is 1-5 minutes.

6. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (d), laminar flow cooling is used to cool the billet by spraying water.

7. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electromagnetic stirring device of the continuous casting machine adopts multi-band electromagnetic stirring technology, which stirs at different frequencies to adapt to melts with different alloy compositions.

8. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The anti-wear additive is a phosphide or chloride.

9. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The continuous casting machine employs dual-flow or multi-flow continuous casting technology during the casting process, that is, simultaneously casting two or more parallel copper alloy billets in the same casting machine.

10. The continuous casting and rolling process for a high-strength copper alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that, After rolling, an online annealing process is performed, which enables rapid annealing of copper alloy products on a continuous production line.

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