Molten metal surface protective cover for a continuous casting apparatus

Abstract

In a continuous casting apparatus having a pair of moving mold walls between which is defined a molten metal reservoir, the surface of molten metal is covered with an insulating member disposed within the molten metal reservoir. Projecting from opposite sides of the insulating member at locations adjacent the moving mold walls and toward the direction of movement of the mold walls are immersion walls which are immersed into the molten metal. The horizontal distance between the surface of each immersion wall and the surface of the moving mold wall closer thereto is more than 3 mm but not more than 10 mm. The molten metal within the gap between the moving mold wall and the immersion wall steadily flows outward following the movement of the mold wall, and accordingly fresh molten metal flows into the gap and circulates within the gap without stagnation. Therefore, even if slag flows into the gap, the slag positively flows outward without becoming accummulated therein. Thus, the slag is prevented from accumulating within the gap to grow large and from staying in cast metal. This, in turn, prevents the occurrence of cracking in any cast piece produced.