Chapter 1.8 - Continuous Casting of Steel

Abstract

Continuous casting process has grown into the biggest casting method for steel, exceeding the conventional ingot casting route in the mid-1980s. Nowadays, the continuous casting ratio has reached the level of 95%. Continuous casting offers not only a high level of productivity and yield but also improved quality. The research and development work in the continuous casting field is continuing intensively because the requirements for steel quality from customers become all the time stricter and the energy efficiency, productivity, and ecological aspects are of increasing importance. One aim of the development has been to construct lower and simpler machines with smaller need for space, low investment costs, and high flexibility in production and maintenance. Today, we have fairly good knowledge of the complex phenomena taking place in continuous casting. Computational simulation and modeling of different phenomena in casting have greatly helped to solve practical problems in industrial casters and to improve process practices and control. Altogether, we still need deeper understanding of the complex solidification phenomena and transformations of microstructure in continuous casting in order to rise to the increasing requirements. This chapter attempts to overview the continuous casting method including machines, solidification phenomena, defects formation, and modeling aspects.