Abstract: A dome forming sliding gate filling composition for teeming ladles comprises chrome ore sand, quartz sand, and fine grained carbon black as an additive which improves dome formation or increases pourability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a new cast strip to a previously cast strip after a change in batch in a continuous casting plant necessitating temporarily closing a casting die outlet including opening the casting die outlet, casting a strip of metal from the die outlet to produce a cast metal strip, attaching a connecting means to a trailing end of the previously cast strip and thereafter connecting a forward end of the new cast strip to the connecting means for concurrent movement of both cast strips. The connecting means includes a hollow connecting cuff open at lower and upper ends, and the trailing end of the previously cast strip is pressed into the lower end of the cuff, and said forward end of the new cast strip is cast into the upper end of the cuff to connect said two cast strips.