Abstract: Disclosed are process and apparatus for use in the direct casting of metal strip from molten metal deposited on a moving chill surface from a tundish having a floor, opposed upwardly extending sidewalls, an end wall, an open outlet opposite the end wall with the open outlet extending substantially the full width of the tundish between the sidewalls, and an inlet for providing a flow of molten metal into the tundish from a source of molten metal. Flow distribution and diffusers within the tundish control and diffuse the flow of molten metal to provide molten metal of substantially uniform temperature across the width of the tundish at the outlet.

Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus is disclosed for direct casting of molten metal to form a strip by solidification of the molten metal on a moving chill surface using the vessel having a floor, spaced sidewalls, an inlet and an outlet extending between the sidewalls for supplying the molten metal to the chill surface in which the transverse dimension of the outlet may be adjusted during casting to change the width of the strip and preferably adjustable baffles or flow diverters are provided to control the flow pattern to provide a substantially uniform flow of metal to the outlet.

Abstract: A method of direct casting molten metal into strip by providing a melt of the metal to be cast, providing a continuously driven metal chill surface, flowing a layer of the melt onto the moving chill surface and extracting heat from the layer of melt to solidify and temporarily bond the layer of melt to the chill surface and to shrink the solidified layer and cause it to be released from the chill surface, withdrawing the released solidified layer as a continuous metal strip, establishing a natural oxide layer on said chill surface to provide an interface between said layer of melt and said chill surface, and maintaining said natural oxide in a smooth layer of substantially uniform thickness.