USE OF DIFFERENT MOLD POWDERS FOR THE CON TINUOUS-CASTING OF BLOOMS AND BILLETS

The processes taking place during continuous casting can be significan tly enhanced by suitable selection and further development of the moul d powder. Reduction of the free carbon content and of the viscosity of the mould powder, for example. increases the melting rate and infiltr ation of slag into the gap between the meniscus and mould. Milder stee ls and steels susceptible to cracking, such as e.g. peritectic grades, can also be cast by this route without any major depressions or other surface defects occurring. When fluoride-free mould powder is used, t he melting behaviour and the consumption are almost the same compared with conventional powder. as is the yield of flawless bar steel materi al. Looking to the further automation of the process, an almost identi cally high yield of flawless material was achieved ill larger series o f trials with granulated mould powder as with the equivalent non-granu lated powder.