Effect of Horizontal Continuous Casting Parameters on Cyclic Macrosegregation, Microstructure, and Properties of High-Strength Cu–Mg Alloy Cast Rod

The objective of this paper is to present the effect of horizontal continuous casting parameters on macrosegregation and its effect on microstructures, textures, mechanical properties, and electrical resistivity of Cu–Mg alloy rod. By increasing the pulling distance and intermittent extraction time, chemical macrosegregation was observed along the longitudinal section of the cast rod, which reached a distance of 40 mm. Three areas were identified along the length of the material, especially at high pulling distance: with decreasing, quasi-stable, and increasing Mg concentration area. As the pulling distance increased, the difference in the observed extreme values of Mg concentration increased. Two distinct zones of different grain size were also observed. The first zone was formed of large columnar grains with a preferred direction of solidification \(\langle 100\rangle\) $⟨100⟩$ inclined to the axis of the wire, followed by a second zone formed of small grains of random texture. Consequently, difference in resistivity occurred from one zone to another and the resistivity increased from 37.5 to 41 nΩm. Likewise, the hardness varied between the values of 90 up and 110 Hv. The most homogenous chemical composition was obtained with up to 6 mm of pulling distance and up to 3 seconds of intermittent extraction time.