| 摘要 |
The invention discloses a method and apparatus for horizontal continuous casting of thin steel slabs by floating liquid steel on the surface of a pool of molten lead and allowing the steel to solidify by cooling to form a continuous flat ribbon. The virtually complete immiscibility between iron and lead is the key to the invention and also the fact that iron floats on lead, both are good heat conductors and molten lead is nonwetting towards solid iron and a good lubricant for it. The method is conducted in an elongated tray containing a molten lead pool and incorporating lateral edge dams defining the cast slab width. Liquid steel from a prior process is continually introduced from a tundish or ladle and distributed uniformly across the entry end while avoiding turbulence and mechanical mixing between lead and steel. Heat is extracted by external cooling as the steel progresses along the tray, causing it to freeze and form an outer shell solidification front extending transversely between the edge dams. This shell progressively thickens as the solidifying slab is pulled towards the pool exit end by withdrawal pinch rolls. The tray is enclosed and force-cooled during casting and the liquid metal surfaces are protected against oxidation by a non-oxidizing gas introduced into the enclosure. External heating of the tray is also provided to maintain the lead molten in preparation for continuous casting. Adjustable edge-guide rollers maintain lateral alignment of the solidifying steel slab, which can be cut to length following exit from the withdrawal rollers or, for example, be passed directly into a flat-rolling mill followed by a cooling table and coilers. |
