Agitated continuous casting apparatus

Abstract

An agitated continuous casting apparatus includes a spout having an upward-turned molten metal receiving port and a downward-turned molten metal outlet, a cylindrical water-cooled casting mold disposed immediately below the spout, and an agitator for applying an electromagnetic agitating force to the molten metal in the spout. The agitator has a function to form, in the spout, an upper area for moving the molten metal in a substantially radiate direction, and a lower area for rotating the molten metal in a circumferential direction. An upper area forming portion of an inner peripheral surface of the spout is formed into a tapered shape with its inside diameter gradually increased from its upper peripheral edge toward its lower peripheral edge. Thus, the molten metal moved in the substantially radiate direction to collide against the upper area forming portion can be moved toward the lower area, and crystallized products having a higher melting point in the molten metal can be spheroidized and collected into an outer periphery of a continuous casting material, and a shape retention effect of the crystallized products can be utilized. Therefore, the continuous casting material has a good rheologic property and an excellent shape maintaining property in its semi-molten state.