Method and production line for manufacturing metal strips made of copper or copper alloys

Abstract

A production line for manufacturing metal strips made of copper or copper alloys by means of casting and rolling. In order to lower the investment cost and operating expenses therefore, the melt is cast into a copper strip in a vertical and / or horizontal continuous strip casting process, and the hot copper strip is cleaned by milling the top and bottom face thereof, is subjected to a cold rolling process, and is prepared for shipping, or is subjected to an inspection and then prepared for shipping after being annealed, pickled, washed, dried, and optionally temper rolled.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 988,328, filed Jul. 18, 2008, which is a 371 of International application PCT / EP2006 / 006590, filed Jul. 6, 2006, which claims priority of DE 10 2005 031 805.3, filed Jul. 7, 2005, the priority of these applications is hereby claimed and these applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention concerns a method and a production line for producing metal strip from copper or copper alloys by casting and rolling.[0003]Until now, metal strip of this type made of soft metals, such as copper or copper alloys, has been produced by casting in slabs (DE 692 22 504 T2). After it has been cooled, the slab must be reheated and rolled out to the required thickness in a hot rolling process. The hot rolling is followed by milling of the upper and lower surfaces, inspection, and coiling into a coil. The metal strip is un...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The objective of the invention is nevertheless to realize the increased capacity that is being demanded in combination with lower operating costs and reduced plant investment costs.

[0007]In accordance with the invention, the stated objective is achieved by casting the melt into copper strip in a vertical and / or horizontal continuous strip casting process, cleaning the copper strip by milling its upper side and underside, subjecting it to a cold rolling process, and preparing it for shipment, or first annealing, pickling, washing and drying it, and possibly subjecting it to a temper rolling step, and then inspecting it and preparing it for shipment. The advantages are that a slab casting installation, heating of the slab to rolling temperature, and hot rolling are completely eliminated. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the cold rolling process can be flexibly adapted to the planned production amounts, for example, by virtue of the fact that the cold rolling can be operated at optimum strip temperature on the delivery side.

[0014]To achieve the stated objective with respect to the equipment, it is proposed that the melting installation be followed in succession in the direction of production by at least one vertical continuous strip casting installation and / or one horizontal continuous strip casting installation, a milling installation immediately downstream, a strip uncoiler, a cold rolling installation, a strip coiler, and an annealing installation. A casting installation for slabs, which cool and then must be reheated to rolling temperature in a furnace, and a hot rolling mill itself are completely eliminated. This means not only lower capital expenditure for the construction of the production line but also lower operating expenses (lower repair costs and shorter repair times) and at the same time greater productivity of the plant.

[0021]To realize higher rolling capacities, it is advantageous for two parallel upstream vertical continuous strip casting installations and milling installations to be assigned to the tandem mill.

Problems solved by technology

The operating costs to be expended for this and the investment costs for new construction and plant design with available useful floor space are basically very high.

Increased capacity, which is presently demanded by the market (30,000 to 70,000 t / year), can no longer be economically achieved with the present cost structure.

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