10. Refractory for Casting

Continuous casting (con-cast) demands uninterrupted product length whereas ingot process is popular for batch process. In modern production protocol, ingot casting process is limited and more than 90% of global steel production follows continuous casting of slab, bloom, billet, thin slab, etc. A brief understanding including mould, pouring, choice of refractory and their failure, advantages and disadvantages for ingot casting are discussed. In spite of batch process, exhaustive con-cast in specific operational features, and refractory design and failures are delivered in the perspective of minimizing casting defects and higher yield of finished steel. Tundish is the indispensable component in the con-cast process and it is the refractory lined last vessel before solidification of molten steel in the mould, in which different refractories in hot face and in back up for easy de-skulling are described. Causes of clogging, usage of anti-clogging refractory materials in subentry nozzle and other “black refractories” with latest design of inert gas purging in SEN had been mentioned.