May 13 - 16, 2008
Gaylord Palms
Orlando, Florida USA

Billet Process and Equipment

073 BP
Thursday,  May 15 - 1:15pm

Understanding Key Factors to Improve Billet Surface Quality and Casting Mold Life

Jean-Philippe Dubé -- Aluiminerie de Bécancour Inc., Canada ;
Ghislain Gaudreau -- Alcoa Primary Metals, Canada

Billet producers often use molds with graphite technology where an oil/gas mixture is injected through a graphite ring to improve billet quality. A new measuring device assesses critical factors affecting billet quality and casting mold longevity, particularly graphite rings. Analysis identifies critical factors of oil type, graphite porosity and uniformity required to produce ideal billet surface quality, while increasing mold longevity.