Methods For Heating Strip Product

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing the thickness of a strip of an aluminum-based material are disclosed. The aluminum-based material is pre-heated before running the material through a warm rolling process. The systems include devices for pre-heating, which can include a heated payoff station or a dedicated pre-heating station that applies heated rolls or acts as a heated tunnel.

1 . A method for reducing a thickness of an input of a metal material, comprising:
 pre-heating the input to a warm rolling temperature that is less than one-half the melting point of the metal material; and   warm rolling the pre-heated input in a rolling mill to reduce the thickness of the input, resulting in a metal strip having a final thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-heating is performed by heating a payoff station from which the input is directed towards the rolling mill. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-heating is performed by running the input through a heated tunnel, wherein the heated tunnel provides heat to the input via conduction, convection, or radiation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-heating is performed by contacting a top surface and a bottom surface of the input with heated rolls, wherein the heated rolls do not substantially reduce the thickness of the input. 
     
     
         5 . The method of any one of  claims 1-4 , wherein the warm rolling temperature is from about 350° F. to about 600° F. (about 177° C. to about 315° C.). 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of  claims 1-5 , wherein the warm rolling is performed to a total %WW of at least 75%. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of  claims 1-6 , wherein the warm rolling is performed by a plurality of warm passes, each warm pass resulting in a %WW of up to 65%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 1-7 , wherein the rolling mill comprises a set of heated bite rolls. 
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of  claims 1-8 , further comprising winding the metal strip into a coil. 
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 1-9 , wherein the metal material is a metal matrix composite (MMC) material that comprises an aluminum alloy and ceramic particles dispersed in the aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ceramic particles comprise at least one ceramic material selected from the group consisting of carbides, oxides, silicides, borides, and nitrides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of  claims 10-11 , wherein the MMC material comprises from about 15 vol% to about 50 vol% of the ceramic particles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of  claims 10-12 , wherein the average particle size of the ceramic particles is from about 0.3 µm to about 5 µm. 
     
     
         14 . A metal strip produced by the method of any one of  claims 1-13 . 
     
     
         15 . An article produced from the metal strip of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         16 . A system for producing metal strip, comprising:
 means for pre-heating a metal input to a warm rolling temperature that is less than one-half the melting point of the metal material; and   a rolling mill for warm rolling the pre-heated metal input to produce the metal strip.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for pre-heating is a payoff station that is configured (A) to feed the metal input to the rolling mill and (B) to pre-heat the metal input. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for pre-heating is a heated tunnel located between a payoff station and the rolling mill, wherein the heated tunnel provides heat to the input via conduction, convection, or radiation. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the means for pre-heating is a set of heated rolls located between a payoff station and the rolling mill, wherein the heated rolls are located so that a top surface and a bottom surface of the metal input are contacted by the heated rolls. 
     
     
         20 . The system of any one of  claims 16-19 , further comprising a take-up reel downstream of the rolling mill.