An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.

An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.

The invention provides rotating a submerged nozzle during casting to arbitrarily change the discharge angle of molten metal, causing the molten metal in the mold for slab to be rotated and stirred. A slab continuous casting apparatus according to the invention supplies molten metal from a tundish to a water-cooled mold for slab through at least an upper nozzle, a slide valve and a submerged nozzle and solidified the molten metal and provided with a submerged-nozzle quick replacement mechanism. The slab continuous casting apparatus further includes a discharge-direction changing mechanism capable of arbitrarily changing discharge angle of the molten metal as viewed in a horizontal cross section, during casting, the discharge-direction changing mechanism being provided between a slide valve device for opening and closing the slide valve and the submerged nozzle.

The invention provides rotating a submerged nozzle during casting to arbitrarily change the discharge angle of molten metal, causing the molten metal in the mold for slab to be rotated and stirred. A slab continuous casting apparatus according to the invention supplies molten metal from a tundish to a water-cooled mold for slab through at least an upper nozzle, a slide valve and a submerged nozzle and solidified the molten metal and provided with a submerged-nozzle quick replacement mechanism. The slab continuous casting apparatus further includes a discharge-direction changing mechanism capable of arbitrarily changing discharge angle of the molten metal as viewed in a horizontal cross section, during casting, the discharge-direction changing mechanism being provided between a slide valve device for opening and closing the slide valve and the submerged nozzle.

An apparatus for continuous casting of molten material includes an elongate tube of electrically conductive material having an inner and an outer wall defining a molding cavity therein, the inner and outer walls having a first end having an inlet for receiving the molten material and a second end having an outlet for removing a solidifying billet formed from the molten material; an electrical coil with inner and outer surfaces, the electrical coil arranged to surround the outer wall of the elongate tube; and an annular channel defined by the outer wall of the elongate tube and the inner surface of the electrical coil. When pulsating current passes through the electrical coil, a counter current is induced in the elongate mold causing a repelling force between the electrical coil and the elongate mold, thereby causing inward radial flexure of the elongate mold.

An apparatus for continuous casting of molten material includes an elongate tube of electrically conductive material having an inner and an outer wall defining a molding cavity therein, the inner and outer walls having a first end having an inlet for receiving the molten material and a second end having an outlet for removing a solidifying billet formed from the molten material; an electrical coil with inner and outer surfaces, the electrical coil arranged to surround the outer wall of the elongate tube; and an annular channel defined by the outer wall of the elongate tube and the inner surface of the electrical coil. When pulsating current passes through the electrical coil, a counter current is induced in the elongate mold causing a repelling force between the electrical coil and the elongate mold, thereby causing inward radial flexure of the elongate mold.

An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.

An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.

An aluminum alloy ingot contains Cu: 0.15 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less, Mg: 0.6 mass % or more and 1.2 mass % or less, Si: 0.95 mass % or more and 1.35 mass % or less, Mn: 0.4 mass % or more and 0.6 mass % or less, Fe: 0.15 mass % or more and 0.70 mass % or less, Cr: 0.09 mass % or more and 0.25 mass % or less, and Ti: 0.012 mass % or more and 0.035 mass % or less, with the remainder being made up of Al and unavoidable impurities, and in the aluminum alloy ingot, a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of secondary dendrite arm spacing in a cross section perpendicular to a casting direction of the aluminum alloy ingot is in a range of 5 m or more and 20 m or less.

An aluminum alloy ingot contains Cu: 0.15 mass % or more and 1.0 mass % or less, Mg: 0.6 mass % or more and 1.2 mass % or less, Si: 0.95 mass % or more and 1.35 mass % or less, Mn: 0.4 mass % or more and 0.6 mass % or less, Fe: 0.15 mass % or more and 0.70 mass % or less, Cr: 0.09 mass % or more and 0.25 mass % or less, and Ti: 0.012 mass % or more and 0.035 mass % or less, with the remainder being made up of Al and unavoidable impurities, and in the aluminum alloy ingot, a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of secondary dendrite arm spacing in a cross section perpendicular to a casting direction of the aluminum alloy ingot is in a range of 5 m or more and 20 m or less.