Process chain of a twin-roll cast aluminium-copper-lithium alloy

Abstract Rolling processes of conventional cast Al-Li alloys quickly reach their limits due to relatively poor material formability. This can be overcome by using twin-roll casting to produce thin sheets. Further thermomechanical treatment, including hot or cold rolling, and heat treatment can adjust the mechanical properties of twin-roll cast Al-Li sheets. The whole manufacturing chain requires detailed knowledge of the precipitation and dissolution behavior during heating, soaking and cooling, to purposefully select any process parameters. This study shows the process chain of a twin-roll cast Al–Cu–Li alloy achieving a hardness of around 180 HV1 by adapting the heat treatment parameters for homogenisation, hot rolling and age hardening. Both hardness and microstructure evolution are visualised along the process chain.