9th ECCC European Continuous Casting Conference – ECCC 2017

Summary (200 to 300 words) should be concise and contain all sufficient information for a fair assessment: In recent times developments of casting technology for long products are heading increasingly in the direction of high speed casting resulting in significantly increased heat load in the mould. Heat loads exceeding the capabilities of a standard mould tube lead to overheating of the mould; reducing lifetime and performance. The SMS Concast Invex mould technology offers optimized cooling conditions resulting in lower temperatures and reduced thermal stress throughout the copper mould tube. Further developments are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and capability for high speed casting. Using simulation technology it is possible to understand the thermal and mechanical operating characteristics and limits of mould tubes better than ever before. Mould tubes deform under the influence of operational physical loads. Combining optimized cooling and precise calculation of thermal and mechanical deformation allows compensation of detrimental deformation leading to optimised mould geometry even under the most extreme conditions. Further research and practical trials have led to methods of improving heat extraction on the cold face of the mould tube by partial modifications of the surface. Increased turbulence in the water gap results in higher heat transfer and lower temperatures throughout the mould. This technology allows flexibility to improve heat extraction globally or in local zones as required. Finally, the combination of machined grooves on the cold face of the mould tube in conjunction with an integrated water jacket essentially eliminates the negative influence of water pressure while maintaining rigidity and a minimum of copper thickness. These developments allow the manufacturing of innovative mould tubes offering high heat extraction capability without compromise.