Aluminum Bronze Roller for Continuous Casting Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rollers for continuous casting plants with build-up welded iron alloy layers experience excessive wear and instability near the mold, leading to non-round running and accelerated wear, making them unsuitable for guiding and supporting strands, especially in areas requiring high stability.

Innovation Solution

A roller with a multiphase heterogeneous aluminum bronze layer, containing Al > 10% by mass, is build-up welded to the base body, creating a strong connection, improving temperature transfer and distribution, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength through martensitic phases, and optionally incorporating Ni, Fe, and Mn for enhanced properties, with recesses for uniform temperature and mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a build-up welded iron alloy layer is applied to the roller base body, then the hardness and mechanical strength of the roller is improved, but the roller experiences excessive wear and instability near the mold

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidstability near mold
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the aluminum bronze layer, specifically setting Al content to 7-12%, Si content to 2-4%, and Mn content to 1-3%, which creates a multiphase structure that simultaneously provides hardness and stability near the mold

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure with a base body made of ductile iron or steel and a build-up welded layer of multiphase aluminum bronze, combining the advantages of both materials to achieve high mechanical strength and improved reliability near the mold

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the aluminum bronze layer contains high Al content (>10% by mass), then corrosion resistance is improved through oxide film formation, but thermal conductivity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidthermal conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the Al content to 7-12% (with preferred range 9-11%) and incorporates Si (2-4%) and Mn (1-3%) to achieve the right balance between corrosion resistance through oxide film formation and maintaining sufficient thermal conductivity for continuous casting operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the build-up welding creates a heterogeneous multiphase alloy structure, then mechanical resistance and strength are improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the chemical composition parameters (Al: 7-12%, Si: 2-4%, Mn: 1-3%) to naturally form a desirable multiphase structure during build-up welding, achieving high mechanical resistance without requiring complex post-welding heat treatment or additional processing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a stable roller capable of withstanding high mechanical and thermal loads, reducing wear by over 80% and maintaining stability near the mold, while ensuring effective corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity, thus improving the operational lifespan and performance of continuous casting rolls.

Implementation Method 1

bonded via a build-up weld connection (6) to the base body (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

the comparatively high Al content of this heterogeneous multi-phase alloy (with Al > 10% by mass) can form a firmly adhering and well-protecting oxide film (containing Cu 2 O and Al 2 O 3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

improved temperature transfer between the layer and the base body due to dilution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConduction (thermal): Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the multi-phase alloy can also lead to martensitic phases (β′, β′ 1 and/or γ′ 1 ) due to the heat treatment by build-up welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase Change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 5

heat treatment by build-up welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Treatment: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentEP2667996B1Roller for guiding and/or supporting a strand in a continuous casting installation having a layer produced by build-up welding ; process of producing such a roller and use of such roll
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH
  • EP2667996B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2667996B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The roller has base (2) made of iron material and copper alloy layer (3) which forms a rolling surface (4) for strand (5). The layer is integrally bonded to the base through a welding joint (6). An independent claim is included for method for producing roller.