PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING STEEL INGOT

摘要

A process for the production of a steel ingot of small cross sections comprises forming the ingot within the lower end of a mold which has a head portion which widens out in a conical configuration at its upper end and which carries in its conical portion a slag bath. A consuming electrode is dipped into the slag bath and it melts down in drops due to the passage of current and solidifies in the continuous casting mold at the top of the ingot. The electrode is moved at a speed such that it approaches the mold at a speed to remain immersed with its full cross section in the slag and so that the solid as well as the liquid parts of the ingot are present only in the lower part of the mold. The apparatus for carrying out this process includes a mold having a lower end of uniform cross section and an upper outwardly flaring conical end. The walls of the conical portion have an opening angle of between 60 DEG and 120 DEG and preferably 90 DEG and this is sufficient to contain a slag bath to permit the electrode of a larger diameter than the ingot to be lowered into the bath with its full cross section.