Continuous casting process

Process description

Liquid steel is cast to specific dimensions and shapes for further processing. Nowadays, this is predominantly carried out (worldwide approx. 90%) using the continuous casting process. The liquid steel passes from the ladle, through distributors into a water-cooled copper mould. The mould oscillates to minimise friction and to prevent the strand from tearing off. Immersion tube, casting powder and argon avoid re-oxidation of the steel in the region of the mould. The viscous melt is withdrawn from below from the mould and passes through a cooled strand guide via corresponding push rollers. The solidification of the strand begins from the outside in the pouring arc.  Splitting of the strand into slabs of various lengths occurs after complete solidification. The finished steel slabs are moved to a rolling mill for further processing.

The slab cutting machine placed at the end of the roller table cuts the steel using high pulse cutting nozzles using oxygen as an oxidant. 

Gas Application

• Argon to protect against re-oxidation
• Oxygen for slab cutting machine

Messer SOlution

In addition to the gases required for your process, Messer offers a variety of equipment for its optimisation under the brand names Oxipyr and Oxial.

Messer provides complete solutions and gas measurement and control technology for the slab cutting machines in cooperation with our hardware suppliers.