Abstract: A baffle retard the transfer of heat from a mold structure to a chill plate during casting of molten metal. The baffle includes a circular support portion and a plurality of flexible segments which extend from the support portion. Each of the segments is engageable with an irregular side portion of the mold structure. During a casting operation, the chill plate and mold structure are lowered from a furnace chamber. As they are lowered, the baffle is maintained in engagement with an irregular side portion of the mold structure until the irregular side portion moves below the baffle. To maintain the baffle in engagement with the irregular side portion of the mold structure during lowering of the mold structure, the flexible segments of the baffle resiliently flex toward and away from the central axis of the baffle. The flexible segments of the baffle may advantageously be formed of a graphite foil.