China's Refractories

《中国耐火材料》英文版

China's Refractories ›› 2021, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 41-44.DOI: 10.19691/j.cnki.1004-4493.2021.02.008

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

New Argon Stopper Technology for Slab Casting

Gerald NITZL1,*(), Xiaohui LIU2, Qingxin LIU2, Jie SHEN3, Yong TANG4   

  1. 1 RHI Magnesita, Wien 1120, Austria
    2 RHI Magnesita, Dalian 116600, China
    3 RHI Magnesita, Shanghai 200021, China
    4 RHI Magnesita, Leoben 8700, Austria
  • Online:2021-06-15 Published:2021-06-15
  • Contact: Gerald NITZL
  • About author:Gerald Nitzl obtained his master’s degree from the university of applied science in Höhr-Grenzhausen in 1985. Since 2008, he has been working for RHI Magnesita, now responsible for the RHI Magnesita Ladle to Mould Refractory Systems global marketing

Abstract:

Argon addition into the casting channel reduces the amount of clogging on the refractory wall to allow long sequence casting of aluminium-killed steel grades. The key to minimum surface defects on the final product is to establish the optimum quantity by optimising the gas distribution below the stopper nose. This is achieved by new argon stopper technology which supports low gas quantities with homogeneous gas and bubble distributions to float non-metallic inclusions (NMI) in the continuous casting mould.

Key words: argon stopper technology, slab casting, aluminium-killed steel, non-metallic inclusions