Further results from strip casting with the single-belt process

The integrated single-belt casting/hot rolling process operated at Claustha l Technical University is described with emphasis on the machine operation. Automatic control of the relevant parameters is very important in strip ca sting with high linear velocities involving the additional process steps of hot rolling and coiling. The following quantities are measured, controlled and/or stored as process data by a computer system: (a) the temperatures o f the liquid steel in the furnace/ladle and in the dispenser and of the str and at the entrance to the roils, (b) the flow rate of the liquid steel dis charged from the ladle into the dispenser, (c) the velocities of the belt, of the strand and of the rolled strip, (d) the roll gap, (e) the lateral po sition of the belt, and (f) the oxygen content of the gas in the strand enc asing. The various controls are described and examples of the time records of the controlled quantities are given. The second part of the paper deals with the feeding system. At present two argon rakes made up from a raw of l ittle argon jets are used to enhance the lateral distribution of the melt o n the belt. In the third part of the paper the materials properties of the product are discussed. It is shown that the internal porosity can be remove d securely by hot rolling with a reduction degree of about one. Some result s are given on the inclusion distribution in the as-cast material.