Continuous casting mold assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is a mold assembly characterized by efficient and controlled removal of heat from molten metal during continuous casting, providing high casting speeds in conjunction with superior surface finish on the cast product. The mold assembly includes a refractory mold body having a longitudinal solidification chamber therein and a plurality of longitudinal cooling bores spaced around the solidification chamber. The cooling bores extend only partially through the mold body in the direction of the solidification chamber to define an insulating section adjacent the inlet end thereof to minimize heat removal from the molten metal source and a cooling section adjacent the outlet end when cooling probes containing a circulating coolant are inserted into the cooling bores. The cooling probes are adjustable along the length of the cooling bores to accurately control the position of the solidification front in the solidification chamber and provide optimum heat transfer from the molten metal for rapid solidification with superior surface finish. In a preferred embodiment, the mold assembly includes a longitudinal bore defining a plurality of solidification chambers of increasing diameter in the direction of the outlet end for producing two or more diameters of cast product by positioning the solidification front first in one chamber and then another by suitable adjustment of the cooling probes.