The 4C Process (Continuous Casting of Copper Compounds) has been developed in order to form metallurgically bonded copper bimetal strips. The bilayered products are characterized by a complex property profile by combining the particular advantages thermal and electrical conductivity of pure copper with the strength and corrosion resistance of tin-bronze. The focus of the experimental and numerical study was on the casting operation (continuous compound strip casting) and the thermomechanical processing (rolling and shear cutting). New findings of the interface formation, the influence of process parameters and the mechanical behavior of the Cu-bilayer products have been generated. The main bonding mechanism has been identified as formation of a solid solution at the interface which ensures a high bonding strength and ductility at the interface. Thus, the evidence of metallurgical bonding via continuous casting and compound stability during thermomechanical processing was provided.
«