A copper ingot of the present invention which is casted by a belt-caster type continuous casting apparatus includes: 1 ppm by mass or less of carbon; 10 ppm by mass or less of oxygen; 0.8 ppm by mass or less of hydrogen; 15 ppm by mass to 35 ppm by mass of phosphorus; and a balance of Cu and inevitable impurities, and includes inclusions formed of oxides containing carbon, phosphorus, and Cu.

Provided are a method for analyzing nitrogen in a metal sample, an apparatus for analyzing nitrogen in a metal sample, a method for adjusting nitrogen concentration in molten steel, and a method for manufacturing steel. The method includes: a melting process in which a metal sample containing a nitrogen component is melted in an argon gas atmosphere by performing impulse heating to gasify the nitrogen component; and an analyzing process in which nitrogen content in the metal sample is determined by analyzing nitrogen gas generated in the melting process and the argon gas by using a gas discharge optical emission method. By analyzing the nitrogen concentration of a sample taken from molten steel by using the analysis method described above, and by determining treatment conditions for adjusting nitrogen concentration on the basis of the nitrogen analysis value derived by the analysis, nitrogen concentration in molten steel is adjusted.

Provided are a method for analyzing nitrogen in a metal sample, an apparatus for analyzing nitrogen in a metal sample, a method for adjusting nitrogen concentration in molten steel, and a method for manufacturing steel. The method includes: a melting process in which a metal sample containing a nitrogen component is melted in an argon gas atmosphere by performing impulse heating to gasify the nitrogen component; and an analyzing process in which nitrogen content in the metal sample is determined by analyzing nitrogen gas generated in the melting process and the argon gas by using a gas discharge optical emission method. By analyzing the nitrogen concentration of a sample taken from molten steel by using the analysis method described above, and by determining treatment conditions for adjusting nitrogen concentration on the basis of the nitrogen analysis value derived by the analysis, nitrogen concentration in molten steel is adjusted.

A non-oriented electrical steel sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises Si: 2.0 to 3.5%, Al: 0.3 to 3.5%, Mn: 0.2 to 4.5%, Zn: 0.0005 to 0.02% in wt % and Fe and inevitable impurities as a balance amount.

A system for casting pig iron is provided. The system has a runner, a tundish, and a mold receiving molten iron in a superheated state, and a feed system positioned adjacent to one of the runner, the tundish, and the mold. The feed system contains solid particles having a chemical composition substantially similar to the molten iron, and is positioned to direct a stream of the solid particles the one of the runner, the tundish, and the mold such that the stream of solid particles mixes with the molten iron. A method is also provided. A stream of molten metal is provided in a superheated state during a casting process, and is mixed with a stream of solid particles such that the solid particles at least partially melt with molten metal to increase a volume of the molten metal without substantially changing a chemical composition of the molten metal.

A system for casting pig iron is provided. The system has a runner, a tundish, and a mold receiving molten iron in a superheated state, and a feed system positioned adjacent to one of the runner, the tundish, and the mold. The feed system contains solid particles having a chemical composition substantially similar to the molten iron, and is positioned to direct a stream of the solid particles the one of the runner, the tundish, and the mold such that the stream of solid particles mixes with the molten iron. A method is also provided. A stream of molten metal is provided in a superheated state during a casting process, and is mixed with a stream of solid particles such that the solid particles at least partially melt with molten metal to increase a volume of the molten metal without substantially changing a chemical composition of the molten metal.

A method of casting a steel semi-product wherein a liquid steel is poured from a ladle to a tundish through a shroud including the steps of determining the light intensity emitted from the surface of the liquid steel in the tundish, detecting, based on said determined intensity, the presence of an open-eye at the surface of the liquid steel and emitting an alert towards an operator when an open-eye is detected.

A method of casting a steel semi-product wherein a liquid steel is poured from a ladle to a tundish through a shroud including the steps of determining the light intensity emitted from the surface of the liquid steel in the tundish, detecting, based on said determined intensity, the presence of an open-eye at the surface of the liquid steel and emitting an alert towards an operator when an open-eye is detected.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for treating a molten metal are provided. A metal treatment system, comprising: a wire feeding subsystem; and a cored wire; wherein the wire feeding subsystem feeds the cored wire into a metal bath at a controlled wire feed rate, and wherein the metal bath comprises a molten metal; wherein the cored wire comprises: a consumable outer sheath having a tubular cross section; and a core fill material coupled to an inner surface of the outer sheath, wherein the core fill material comprises a refining agent for refining the molten metal; and wherein the refining agent reacts with the molten metal, thereby causing an impurity to be removable from the metal bath.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for treating a molten metal are provided. A metal treatment system, comprising: a wire feeding subsystem; and a cored wire; wherein the wire feeding subsystem feeds the cored wire into a metal bath at a controlled wire feed rate, and wherein the metal bath comprises a molten metal; wherein the cored wire comprises: a consumable outer sheath having a tubular cross section; and a core fill material coupled to an inner surface of the outer sheath, wherein the core fill material comprises a refining agent for refining the molten metal; and wherein the refining agent reacts with the molten metal, thereby causing an impurity to be removable from the metal bath.