Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Innovative Plasma Stirring (PTC) Process semi-continuous casting for Aluminum billets eliminates the necessity for homogenization before plastic deformation processes The PTC stirring during solidification dissolves the inter dendritic phase into the grains and reduces the macro segregation in the cross section Normal casting after homogenization PTC as cast The end of homogenization treatment for 6XXX Aluminum billets

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Plasma stirring process for Aluminum 6XXX billets The plasma stirring process is an add-on technology for existing casting line The plasma stirs the liquid aluminum during the solidification, by applying rotating plasma arc The rotating plasma arc induces very powerful magnetic and electric fields into the molten metal This stirring effect eliminates the necessity for homogenization treatment, increases yield, improves mechanical properties and homogeneity and reduces DAS size

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Creates enormous shear forces by very effective stirring Plasma stirring Induces electric and magnetic fields in the molten metal Creates changing current density flow in the molten metal Breaks the growing dendrites and creates a new nucleation center on each fracture Creates smaller uniform dendrites and reduces significantly porosity and segregation levels

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Plasma stirring process benefits for Aluminum 6XXX billets The plasma stirring process benefits for aluminum 6XXX in comparison to homogenized (6-14 hours) normal DC billet: Reducing macro segregation by distribution of the alloying elements in the billet during the solidification process Reducing the micro segregation by defusing the alloying elements from the boundaries into the grains during the solidification process Saving completely the homogenization treatment required for thermo mechanical process, such as extrusion, forging, rolling etc. Improving significantly the surface quality of the billet and increases extrusion yield Improving mechanical properties, such as elongation (e%)

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Plasma eliminates the homogenization process Normal casting Plasma stirring as cast Homogenization Extrusion C for 14 hours T5 Aging

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD PTC as cast billets PTC profiles without homogenization Extrusion of as cast billets End products for clients Plasma eliminates the homogenization process

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Plasma as cast billet directly to extrusion The plasma stirring was tested on more than 100 direct chilled casting (DC casting) billets on commercial lines of Aluminum 6XXX at several casting houses. 1.Casting aluminum 6XXXof 180mm diameter billets 2.DC casting of billets without plasma arc (at the same batch) 3.Casting temperature o C 4.Casting speed mm/minute hours homogenization treatment was done in o C 6.Extrusion was done after homogenization treatment. Normal casting 1.Casting aluminum 6XXX of 180mm diameter billets 2.DC casting of billets with plasma arc (at the same batch) 3.Casting temperature o C 4.Casting speed mm/minute 5.No homogenization treatment was done 6.Extrusion was done without homogenization treatment. Plasma stirring casting

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD 1.40mm graphite electrodes were placed on top of the billets. 2.Several plasma stirring energies were applied – 9kWh/ton - 15kWh/ton 3.Argon flow was 6 litter/minute 4.Alumina ring was applied to allow argon surrounding around the electrode Plasma stirring parameters Electrode and ringGripper and electrode

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Extruded Profiles Normal With HomogenizationPTC Without Homogenization Complicated types of profiles were chosen Extrusion was done for homogenized normal cast billet and for not homogenized plasma as cast billet

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Normal With HomogenizationPTC Without Homogenization

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Extruded Profiles Complicated types of profiles were chosen The PTC as cast billets without homogenization revealed the same extrusion behavior as normal casting with homogenization

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Extrusion results The PTC as cast billets without homogenization revealed the same extrusion behavior as normal casting with homogenization. The mechanical properties are in the same level. Elongation is increased The anodize quality is in the same level The billets were cast from secondary Aluminum thus contained very high Levels of Copper (Cu) ( %) and Iron (Fe)( %) which significantly decrease the formability.

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Surface Mid Radius Center Samples for Optical Microscopy The samples were mounted in Bakelite Polished by SiC papers and alumina suspension etched in Keller’s reagent. 1 rectangular samples were taken (2 cm thickness), from Mid radius

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Normal casting after homogenizationPTC 125A as cast Reducing macro segregation by distributing the alloying elements in the billet during the solidification process Reducing the micro segregation by defusing the alloying elements from the boundaries into the grains during the solidification process

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD PTC 175A as cast Normal casting after homogenization Reducing macro segregation by distributing the alloying elements in the billet during the solidification process Reducing the micro segregation by defusing the alloying elements from the boundaries into the grains during the solidification process

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD Conclusions The Plasma stirring: 1. Eliminates the necessity for homogenization treatment 2.The PTC as cast billets without homogenization revealed the same extrusion behavior as normal casting with homogenization 3.Reduces macro segregation by distribution of the alloying elements in the billet during the solidification process 4.Reduces the micro segregation by defusing the alloying elements from the boundaries into the grains during the solidification process 5.Increases yield by improving billets surface quality 6.The anodize quality is in the same level 7.Improves mechanical properties of the extruded product 8.Reduces and refines DAS

Confidential NETANYA PLASMATEC LTD PTC movie