Shaped direct chill aluminum ingot
Method and apparatus for forming aluminum ingot having shaped ends to avoid alligatoring during rolling.
1. A method of producing an aluminum ingot comprising:
(a) providing a caster for casting an aluminum ingot, said caster comprising a vertical mold and a bottom block, said bottom block having an upper surface for first receiving molten aluminum during said casting, said upper surface having two opposed faces tapered inwardly towards each other and terminating in an end to provide a cast ingot;
(b) casting an aluminum ingot in a vertical direction in said caster, the cast aluminum ingot having at least one formed end formed by said bottom block during said casting, said aluminum formed end comprising opposed tapered surfaces provided opposite a rolling direction and extending a distance from a flat surface of said cast aluminum ingot, said tapered surfaces being provided at a first angle in the range of 2° to 20° from said flat surface of said cast aluminum ingot and a second angle in the range of 50° to 80° from said flat surface of said cast aluminum ingot and extending a distance from said first angle towards said formed end.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tapered surfaces are provided at a first angle in the range of 5° to 15°.
3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tapered surfaces of said formed end terminate in a rounded portion.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ingot comprises a second formed end.