A mold flux is used in continuous casting of Ti-containing hypo-peritectic steel so as to prevent longitudinal cracks from forming on a surface of a slab. The mold flux contains CaO, SiO.sub.2, an alkali metal oxide and a fluorine compound as major components. f(1), f(2) and f(3), which are calculated from the initial chemical composition, are (1.10.5T) to (1.90.5T), 0.05 to 0.40 and 0 to 0.40, respectively, if the Ti content of the molten steel (mass %) is T. The TiO.sub.2 content in the melting state during the casting is no more than 20 mass % and the ratio of the first peak height of perovskite to the first peak height of cuspidine in the mold flux film is no more than 1.0.

A mold flux is used in continuous casting of Ti-containing hypo-peritectic steel so as to prevent longitudinal cracks from forming on a surface of a slab. The mold flux contains CaO, SiO.sub.2, an alkali metal oxide and a fluorine compound as major components. f(1), f(2) and f(3), which are calculated from the initial chemical composition, are (1.10.5T) to (1.90.5T), 0.05 to 0.40 and 0 to 0.40, respectively, if the Ti content of the molten steel (mass %) is T. The TiO.sub.2 content in the melting state during the casting is no more than 20 mass % and the ratio of the first peak height of perovskite to the first peak height of cuspidine in the mold flux film is no more than 1.0.

A non-oriented electrical steel sheet comprising, Si: not less than 1.0 mass % nor more than 3.5 mass %, Al: not less than 0.1 mass % nor more than 3.0 mass %, Ti: not less than 0.001 mass % nor more than 0.01 mass %, Bi: not less than 0.001 mass % nor more than 0.01 mass %, wherein Expression (1) is satisfied when a Ti content (mass %) is represented as [Ti] and a Bi content (mass %) is represented as [Bi]: [Ti]0.8[Bi]+0.002 . . . (1).

A non-oriented electrical steel sheet comprising, Si: not less than 1.0 mass % nor more than 3.5 mass %, Al: not less than 0.1 mass % nor more than 3.0 mass %, Ti: not less than 0.001 mass % nor more than 0.01 mass %, Bi: not less than 0.001 mass % nor more than 0.01 mass %, wherein Expression (1) is satisfied when a Ti content (mass %) is represented as [Ti] and a Bi content (mass %) is represented as [Bi]: [Ti]0.8[Bi]+0.002 . . . (1).

Disclosed is an electromagnetic casting method of polycrystalline silicon which is characterized in that polycrystalline silicon is continuously cast by charging silicon raw materials into a bottomless cold mold, melting the silicon raw materials using electromagnetic induction heating, and pulling down the molten silicon to solidify it, wherein the depth of solid-liquid interface before the start of the final solidification process is decreased by reducing a pull down rate of ingot in a final phase of steady-state casting. By adopting the method, the region of precipitation of foreign substances in the finally solidified portion of ingot can be reduced and cracking generation can be prevented upon production of a polycrystalline silicon as a substrate material for a solar cell.

Disclosed is an electromagnetic casting method of polycrystalline silicon which is characterized in that polycrystalline silicon is continuously cast by charging silicon raw materials into a bottomless cold mold, melting the silicon raw materials using electromagnetic induction heating, and pulling down the molten silicon to solidify it, wherein the depth of solid-liquid interface before the start of the final solidification process is decreased by reducing a pull down rate of ingot in a final phase of steady-state casting. By adopting the method, the region of precipitation of foreign substances in the finally solidified portion of ingot can be reduced and cracking generation can be prevented upon production of a polycrystalline silicon as a substrate material for a solar cell.

A casting apparatus for producing metal matrix composite materials includes a melt channel inclined in an apparatus flow direction, a flow pathway for a metal melt, and a particle feed device for adding solid particles to the metal melt. A casting method includes adding solid particles to a metal melt flowing in a continuous flow down a melt channel. The particle feed device is a shaft extending at least up to a base of the flow pathway and having a particle exit window in a casing of the shaft. The metal melt flowing down along the flow pathway is divided into two partial streams flowing around the channel projecting into and dividing the flow pathway. Where the partial streams combine again after flowing around the channel, the solid particles trickle into the confluence of the partial streams via a particle exit window in the channel located above the flow pathway.

A casting apparatus for producing metal matrix composite materials includes a melt channel inclined in an apparatus flow direction, a flow pathway for a metal melt, and a particle feed device for adding solid particles to the metal melt. A casting method includes adding solid particles to a metal melt flowing in a continuous flow down a melt channel. The particle feed device is a shaft extending at least up to a base of the flow pathway and having a particle exit window in a casing of the shaft. The metal melt flowing down along the flow pathway is divided into two partial streams flowing around the channel projecting into and dividing the flow pathway. Where the partial streams combine again after flowing around the channel, the solid particles trickle into the confluence of the partial streams via a particle exit window in the channel located above the flow pathway.

Continuous casting apparatus, comprising a mold and a crystallizer for the continuous casting of a metal product. The mold is provided with primary cooling means using a cooling fluid and associated with the walls of the crystallizer. A plurality of cooling members is installed downstream of the mold to perform a secondary cooling of the product, said cooling members comprising a plurality of delivery nozzles configured to deliver a liquid for cooling the product.

Continuous casting apparatus, comprising a mold and a crystallizer for the continuous casting of a metal product. The mold is provided with primary cooling means using a cooling fluid and associated with the walls of the crystallizer. A plurality of cooling members is installed downstream of the mold to perform a secondary cooling of the product, said cooling members comprising a plurality of delivery nozzles configured to deliver a liquid for cooling the product.