Abstract: A method and belt composition for improving the performance and flatness of thin revolving flexible casting belts of continuous casting machines wherein at least one wall of the moving mold is provided by a thin flexible endless metallic casting belt having a permanent insulative coating with fluid-accessible porosity in this permanent coating. Contrary to prior methods and apparatus which have sought to protect the wide thin casting belts, the present method for improving belt flatness and performance involves providing a Helium-containing gaseous film between the metal and the front face of the casting belt which is coated with a permanent insulative porous coating.

Abstract: A method and belt composition for improving the performance and flatness of thin revolving flexible casting belts of continuous casting machines wherein at least one wall of the moving mold is provided by a thin flexible endless metallic casting belt having a permanent insulative coating with fluid-accessible porosity in this permanent coating. Contrary to prior methods and apparatus which have sought to protect the wide thin casting belts, the present method for improving belt flatness and performance involves providing a Helium-containing gaseous film between the metal and the front face of the casting belt which is coated with a permanent insulative porous coating.

Abstract: A unitary-layer partially metallic, suitably adherent, mechanically and thermally durable, non-wetting, fusion-bonded matrix coating on endless, flexible metallic casting belts for continuous casting machines is described. This fusion-bonded matrix coating is also advantageous for coating other molten-metal-contacting surfaces, in continuous casting machines, such as edge-dam blocks that define moving side walls of a mold cavity. The fusion-bonded matrix (or reticulum) coating provides advantageous accessible porosity throughout the coating and comprises a nonmetallic refractory material interspersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix of heat-resistant metal or metal alloy, for example nickel or nickel alloy, which is fusion-bonded to the grit-blasted surface of the belt and anchors and holds the nonmetallic material. The coating is applied by thermally spraying a powdered mixture directly on the roughened surface.