Abstract: The impact pad (10) comprises a body of refractory material capable of withstanding contact with molten steel in a tundish, the body comprising a base (12) having an impact surface (13), an outer sidewall (14) extending upwardly from the impact surface (13), an annular portion (15) providing a top surface (16) substantially parallel to the impact surface (13) and connected to the sidewall (14) and defining an opening (11) into the pad, the lower face (17) of the annular portion (15), the inner face (18) of the sidewall (14) and the upper surface (19) of the base (12) adjacent the sidewall (14) together providing a continuous curved surface, which surface adjacent its lower end defines a trough (20) around the perimeter of the impact surface (13) of the base (12).

Abstract: A tundish impact pad has a non-uniform construction with a long dimension and a short dimension perpendicular to the long dimension, the long dimension of the impact pad disposed aligned with the long dimension of the tundish on the tundish floor. The impact pad is a body of refractory material capable of withstanding continuous contact with molten steel during the entire use cycle of the tundish. The body has a base with an impact surface, an endless outer side wall extending upwardly from the impact surface, and a top surface substantially parallel to the impact surface and connected to the side wall and defining a non-uniform opening. The side wall also has an interior face which is semi-circular about an axis substantially parallel to the impact surface around the entire extent thereof, or channel-shaped, so that molten steel contacting the impact surface flows outwardly, then in turn inwardly then directed upwardly by the side wall interior face, and then flows out the opening.