Abstract: A system for monitoring the consumption of mold flux in a continuous casting apparatus including a transfer apparatus for transferring mold flux from a bulk source to an intermediate hopper; a feed control apparatus for controlling the transfer of mold flux from the transfer apparatus to the intermediate hopper, the feed control apparatus including at least one load cell for weighing the intermediate hopper and the mold flux within the intermediate hopper over a period of time, the feed control apparatus further including a controller receiving input from the at least one load cell and for controlling the operation of the transfer apparatus based on the input; and a delivery apparatus for receiving mold flux from the intermediate hopper and delivering the mold flux to a mold, the delivery apparatus pneumatically feeding the mold flux to the mold.

Abstract: A continuous casting apparatus includes a dispensing assembly for introducing granular mold flux onto the top of a slab being cast within a continuous casting mold. The apparatus has a delivery apparatus for feeding granular mold flux from an intermediate hopper to the top of a slab being cast, and the delivery apparatus has at least one delivery tube assembly interconnected with the intermediate hopper, with a mechanism for controlling the flow rate of the mold flux through the delivery tube assembly. In the first two embodiments, the flow rate control mechanism is a variable diameter pinch valve located between the intermediate hopper and the delivery tube assembly. In the third and fourth embodiments, the flow rate control mechanism is an air pump and a mechanism for varying the air volume through the air pump so that the granular mold flux delivered is a function of the air volume of the air pump.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of granular mold flux onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold. The apparatus includes a source of granular mold flux, and a transport apparatus interconnected with the source of granular mold flux and capable of moving the granular mold flux at varying rates onto the top of a strand of steel being cast within a continuous casting mold. A sensing apparatus is provided which is capable of determining a parameter of the mold flux on the top of the strand of steel being cast, which sensing apparatus may be a temperature sensor or a level sensor. A control is also provided which is responsive to the sensing apparatus to regulate the rate of flow of the granular mold flux onto the top strand of steel.

Abstract: A glass frit composition having the theoretical oxide values (in weight %) of 0.5-9 Li.sub.2 O, 29-38 Na.sub.2 O, 0-25 CaO, 5-10 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 38-50 of SiO.sub.2 is characterized in that it is virtually fluorine-free and was found to be eminently suitable in its molten form as a lubricant in the continuous casting of steel. The invention is thus related to a lithium containing fluorine-free frit compositions and in a second aspect to an improvement in the process for the continuous casting of steel, the improvement comprising using as a lubricant the glass frit composition referred to above.