A continuous casting machine is provided that includes a refractory tundish funnel. The tundish funnel has a tapered shape and is designed to sit on a tundish lid in order to channel steel from the ladle to the tundish bath. A collector can also be provided to channel the steel from the ladle. The collector has an opening with a cross-section that transitions from a cylindrical shape to a cross-shape.

In a continuous casting apparatus 100 for casting a stainless steel billet 3c, a long nozzle 2 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 1 for pouring a molten stainless steel 3 in the ladle 1 into the tundish 101. Further, a nitrogen gas 4 is supplied as a seal gas around the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101, and continuous casting of the stainless steel billet 3c is performed, in which, while immersing the spout 2a of the long nozzle 2 into the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101, the molten stainless steel 3 is poured through the long nozzle 2 into the tundish 101 and the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101 is poured into a casting mold 105.

In a continuous casting apparatus 100 for casting a stainless steel billet 3c, a long nozzle 2 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 1 for pouring a molten stainless steel 3 in the ladle 1 into the tundish 101. Further, a nitrogen gas 4 is supplied as a seal gas around the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101, and continuous casting of the stainless steel billet 3c is performed, in which, while immersing the spout 2a of the long nozzle 2 into the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101, the molten stainless steel 3 is poured through the long nozzle 2 into the tundish 101 and the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101 is poured into a casting mold 105.

In a continuous casting method for casting aluminum-deoxidized molten stainless steel 1 by using a continuous casting apparatus 100 in which a long nozzle 3 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 2, the molten stainless steel 1 is poured into the tundish 101 through the long nozzle 3, while the spout 3a of the long nozzle 3 is being immersed in the molten stainless steel 1 that has been poured, and the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101 is poured into a casting mold 105. A TD powder 5 is sprayed so that the powder covers the surface of the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101, and nitrogen gas is supplied around the molten stainless steel 1. A calcium-containing material is added to the molten stainless steel 1 in a state other than a state of retention in the tundish 101.

In a continuous casting method for casting aluminum-deoxidized molten stainless steel 1 by using a continuous casting apparatus 100 in which a long nozzle 3 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 2, the molten stainless steel 1 is poured into the tundish 101 through the long nozzle 3, while the spout 3a of the long nozzle 3 is being immersed in the molten stainless steel 1 that has been poured, and the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101 is poured into a casting mold 105. A TD powder 5 is sprayed so that the powder covers the surface of the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101, and nitrogen gas is supplied around the molten stainless steel 1. A calcium-containing material is added to the molten stainless steel 1 in a state other than a state of retention in the tundish 101.

In a continuous casting method for casting an aluminum-deoxidized molten stainless steel 1 by using a continuous casting apparatus 100 in which a long nozzle 3 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 2, the molten stainless steel 1 is poured through the long nozzle 3 into the tundish 101, while immersing a spout 3a into the poured molten stainless steel 1, and the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101 is poured into a casting mold 105. A TD powder 5 is sprayed so that the powder covers the surface of the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101, a nitrogen gas is supplied around the molten stainless steel 1, and a calcium-containing material is added to the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101. The surface of the molten stainless steel 1 after casting is ground.

In a continuous casting method for casting an aluminum-deoxidized molten stainless steel 1 by using a continuous casting apparatus 100 in which a long nozzle 3 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 2, the molten stainless steel 1 is poured through the long nozzle 3 into the tundish 101, while immersing a spout 3a into the poured molten stainless steel 1, and the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101 is poured into a casting mold 105. A TD powder 5 is sprayed so that the powder covers the surface of the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101, a nitrogen gas is supplied around the molten stainless steel 1, and a calcium-containing material is added to the molten stainless steel 1 in the tundish 101. The surface of the molten stainless steel 1 after casting is ground.

A rapid solidification apparatus is provided. The rapid solidification apparatus includes a movable chill body defining a quench surface, a molten material nozzle for directing one or more streams of molten material towards the quench surface and a source of inert gas. The source of inert gas is configured to provide a conical shield of pressurized inert gas around the one or more streams of molten material. The conical shield extends from the molten material nozzle towards the quench surface with focal point of the conical shield at or proximate the quench surface.

In a continuous casting device 100 for casting a stainless steel billet 3c, a long nozzle 2 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 1. A molten stainless steel 3 is poured through the long nozzle 2 into the tundish 101, and a spout 2a of the long nozzle 2 is immersed into the poured molten stainless steel 3. During pouring, an argon gas 4a is supplied around the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101. Further, continuous casting is performed, in which, while immersing the spout 2a of the long nozzle 2 into the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101, the molten stainless steel 3 is poured from the ladle 1 into the tundish 101 and poured from the tundish 101 into a casting mold 105. During casting, a nitrogen gas 4b is supplied instead of the argon gas 4a around the molten stainless steel 3 inside the tundish 101.

In a continuous casting device 100 for casting a stainless steel billet 3c, a long nozzle 2 extending into a tundish 101 is provided at a ladle 1. A molten stainless steel 3 is poured through the long nozzle 2 into the tundish 101, and a spout 2a of the long nozzle 2 is immersed into the poured molten stainless steel 3. During pouring, an argon gas 4a is supplied around the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101. Further, continuous casting is performed, in which, while immersing the spout 2a of the long nozzle 2 into the molten stainless steel 3 in the tundish 101, the molten stainless steel 3 is poured from the ladle 1 into the tundish 101 and poured from the tundish 101 into a casting mold 105. During casting, a nitrogen gas 4b is supplied instead of the argon gas 4a around the molten stainless steel 3 inside the tundish 101.