Abstract: In a twin roll continuous caster, the casting nozzle in the continuous casting apparatus is arranged such that the outlet passages and/or tapered walls in the main portion within the casting nozzle provide flow of molten metal downwardly converging toward the nip between the casting rolls of a twin roll caster. The casting nozzle having a reservoir portion for directing molten metal converging toward the triple point region to inhibit the washing of shells forming on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls.

Abstract: In a twin roll continuous caster, the casting nozzle in the continuous casting apparatus is arranged such that the outlet passages and/or tapered walls in the main portion within the casting nozzle provide flow of molten metal downwardly converging toward the nip between the casting rolls of a twin roll caster. The casting nozzle having a reservoir portion for directing molten metal converging toward the triple point region to inhibit the washing of shells forming on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls.

Abstract: A method of casting a thin strip is disclosed. The method includes assembling a pair of side dams adjacent end portions of counter-rotating casting rolls through which a strip of metal can be cast to permit a casting pool of molten metal to be formed supported by the casting surfaces of the casting rolls, assembling a metal delivery system above the casting rolls delivering molten metal to form a casting pool supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls above the nip and confined by the pair of side dams, assembling a mechanical screw drive to move axially the side dams toward the casting pool, counter-rotating the casting rolls such that the casting surfaces of the casting rolls each travel inwardly to produce a cast strip downwardly from the nip, and moving the side dams axially inward toward the casting pool at a rate of between 0.4 and 5.0 mm/hour by actuation of the mechanical screw.

Abstract: A method of continuously casting metal strip having the steps of assembling a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls, assembling a metal delivery system adapted to deliver molten metal above the nip to form a casting pool, the casting pool forming a meniscus with each casting surface of the casting rolls, delivering a shell thickness controlling gas to select areas within 300 mm of end portions of at least one casting roll downwardly toward the meniscus between the casting pool and the casting surface adapted to control thickness of the metal shell, and control attenuation of the casting roll, and sensing the temperature and thickness profiles of the cast strip downstream from the nip to determine high or low temperature areas of the cast strip within 300 mm of the end portions and causing the gas to be delivered to the high or low temperature areas to change the thickness of the metal shell.

Abstract: In a twin roll continuous caster, the casting nozzle in the continuous casting apparatus is arranged such that the outlet passages and/or tapered walls in the main portion within the casting nozzle provide flow of molten metal downwardly converging toward the nip between the casting rolls of a twin roll caster. The casting nozzle having a reservoir portion for directing molten metal converging toward the triple point region to inhibit the washing of shells forming on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls.

Abstract: A method of casting a thin strip is disclosed. The method includes assembling a pair of side dams adjacent end portions of counter-rotating casting rolls through which a strip of metal can be cast to permit a casting pool of molten metal to be formed supported by the casting surfaces of the casting rolls, assembling an angular actuator connected to a side dam at an angle urging the side dam toward the casting pool with a hold down force component urging the side dam downwardly, assembling a metal delivery system above the casting rolls delivering molten metal to form a casting pool supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls above the nip and confined by the pair of side dams, and counter-rotating the casting rolls such that the casting surfaces of the casting rolls each travel inwardly to produce a cast strip downwardly from the nip.

Abstract: A method of casting thin strip to reduce casting defects is disclosed. The method includes assembling a pair of side dams adjacent end portions of counter-rotating casting rolls through which a strip of metal can be cast to permit a casting pool of molten metal to be formed supported by the casting surfaces of the casting rolls, assembling a metal delivery system above the casting rolls delivering molten metal to form a casting pool supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls above the nip and confined by the pair of side dams, assembling a vibrator device to vibrate the pair of side dams at 200-400 Hz. to inhibit the formation of snake eggs in the casting pool, and counter-rotating the casting rolls such that the casting surfaces of the casting rolls each travel inwardly toward the nip to produce a cast strip downwardly from the nip.

Abstract: In a twin roll continuous caster, the casting nozzle in the continuous casting apparatus is arranged such that the outlet passages and/or tapered walls in the main portion within the casting nozzle provide flow of molten metal downwardly converging toward the nip between the casting rolls of a twin roll caster. The casting nozzle having a reservoir portion for directing molten metal converging toward the triple point region to inhibit the washing of shells forming on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls.

Abstract: In a twin roll continuous caster, the casting nozzle in the continuous casting apparatus is arranged such that the outlet passages and/or tapered walls in the main portion within the casting nozzle provide flow of molten metal downwardly converging toward the nip between the casting rolls of a twin roll caster. The casting nozzle having a reservoir portion for directing molten metal converging toward the triple point region to inhibit the washing of shells forming on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls.

Abstract: A method of desulfurizing steel including steps of forming a slag over a molten metal, drawing a vacuum to less than 5 torr over the slag and molten metal, stirring the molten metal and slag, and deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten metal and slag to degas the steel reducing at least sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen contents, and reducing activity of oxygen in the molten metal to less than 30 ppm. The method includes forming a slag composition after degassing the steel comprising CaO between about 50 and 70% by weight, SiO2 between about 20 and 28% by weight, CaF2 between about 5 and 15% by weight, MgO not more than 8% by weight, Al2O3 not more than 1% by weight, and a combination of FeO+MnO not more than 2% by weight, where the sum of CaO+CaF2+SiO2+MgO is at least 85% by weight.

Abstract: A method of continuously casting steel including steps of forming a casting pool of molten steel comprising a carbon content of less than 0.5% by weight on casting surfaces of a pair of internally cooled casting rolls having a nip formed between them, counter rotating the casting surfaces of the casting rolls toward each other to produce a cast steel strip moving downwardly away from the nip between the casting rolls, guiding the cast strip through a first enclosure adjacent the casting rolls as the strip moves away from the casting rolls, the first enclosure having a reducing atmosphere containing carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen of at least 0.1%, establishing the reducing atmosphere in the first enclosure to control ingress of atmospheric air so as to maintain said atmosphere with a CO to CO2 ratio of at least 1.5 during steady state operation.

Abstract: Method of inhibiting cracking of steel strip in continuous casting of thin strip with the steps of: assembling a pair of counter-rotating casting rolls each with circumferential casting surfaces positioned laterally to form a nip therebetween to cast metal strip downwardly from the nip where each casting roll has lateral coolant passages positioned circumferentially spaced inwardly adjacent the casting surface of the roll, providing a source of coolant to be delivered to a temperature regulator regulating the temperature of the coolant delivered to the coolant passages to between 85° F. and 110° F., assembling a metal delivery system above the casting rolls to deliver molten metal forming a casting pool supported on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls above the nip, and counter-rotating the casting rolls such that the casting surfaces of the casting rolls each travel inwardly toward the nip to produce a cast strip downwardly from the nip.

Abstract: In a twin roll continuous caster, the casting nozzle in the continuous casting apparatus is arranged such that the outlet passages and/or tapered walls in the main portion within the casting nozzle provide flow of molten metal downwardly converging toward the nip between the casting rolls of a twin roll caster. The casting nozzle having a reservoir portion for directing molten metal converging toward the triple point region to inhibit the washing of shells forming on the casting surfaces of the casting rolls.

Abstract: A method of continuously casting steel including steps of forming a casting pool of molten steel comprising a carbon content of less than 0.5% by weight on casting surfaces of a pair of internally cooled casting rolls having a nip formed between them, counter rotating the casting surfaces of the casting rolls toward each other to produce a cast steel strip moving downwardly away from the nip between the casting rolls, guiding the cast strip through a first enclosure adjacent the casting rolls as the strip moves away from the casting rolls, the first enclosure having a reducing atmosphere containing carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen of at least 0.1%, establishing the reducing atmosphere in the first enclosure to control ingress of atmospheric air so as to maintain said atmosphere with a CO to CO2 ratio of at least 1.5 during steady state operation.

Abstract: A method of desulfurizing steel including steps of forming a slag over a molten metal, drawing a vacuum to less than 5 torr over the slag and molten metal, stirring the molten metal and slag, and deoxidizing and desulfurizing the molten metal and slag to degas the steel reducing at least sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen contents, and reducing activity of oxygen in the molten metal to less than 30 ppm. The method includes forming a slag composition after degassing the steel comprising CaO between about 50 and 70% by weight, SiO2 between about 20 and 28% by weight, CaF2 between about 5 and 15% by weight, MgO not more than 8% by weight, Al2O3 not more than 1% by weight, and a combination of FeO+MnO not more than 2% by weight, where the sum of CaO+CaF2+SiO2+MgO is at least 85% by weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.

Abstract: A method of making a steel with low carbon less than 0.035% by weight including steps of preparing a heat of molten steel composition in a steelmaking furnace to a tapping temperature as desired for desulfurization at a VTD, tapping open into a ladle the molten steel composition with an oxygen level between about 600 and 1120 ppm, providing slag forming compound to the ladle to form a slag cover over the molten steel composition in the ladle, transporting the molten steel to a VTD, decarburizing the molten steel composition at the VTD by drawing a vacuum of less than 650 millibars, after decarburizing, transporting the molten steel to an LMF and deoxidizing the molten steel composition, after deoxidizing, returning to the VTD to desulfurize and degas the molten steel composition, and casting the molten steel composition to form a steel with low carbon less than 0.035% by weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously casting thin strip includes a caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip there between capable of delivering cast strip downwardly from the nip and an first enclosure capable of forming a protective atmosphere into which the strip can be formed in loop to extend over a plurality of rollers into pinch rolls with the strip having a strain of less than 0.4%, which may be provided by a plurality of rollers at entry of the strip into the pinch rolls to carry the strip into the pinch rolls, with at least a first entry roller having a diameter between 200 and 650 millimeters and being below a majority of other rollers.

Abstract: A method of making a steel with low carbon less than 0.035% by weight including steps of preparing a heat of molten steel composition in a steelmaking furnace to a tapping temperature as desired for desulfurization at a VTD, tapping open into a ladle the molten steel composition with an oxygen level between about 600 and 1120 ppm, providing slag forming compound to the ladle to form a slag cover over the molten steel composition in the ladle, transporting the molten steel to a VTD, decarburizing the molten steel composition at the VTD by drawing a vacuum of less than 650 millibars, after decarburizing, transporting the molten steel to an LMF and deoxidizing the molten steel composition, after deoxidizing, returning to the VTD to desulfurize and degas the molten steel composition, and casting the molten steel composition to form a steel with low carbon less than 0.035% by weight.