A method for producing a metal product, wherein in a strand casting system, liquid metal is output as a slab from a mold vertically downward in a conveying direction, is guided along a strand guide, and is deflected into the horizontal, wherein the slab is heated in a furnace or inductively downstream of the stand casting system.

A monitoring and control system is for a strand guide roll assembly of a continuous casting machine which includes a plurality of rolls spaced apart generally along a path of travel of a strand from an input end located adjacent to a mold to an output end. The system includes a plurality of sensors each coupled with a separate one of the rolls so as to be spaced apart generally along the travel path, each sensor senses magnitude of a load on the coupled roll. A logic circuit is coupled with each sensor so as to receive input from the sensors corresponding to load magnitude. The logic circuit is configured to determine from the sensor input a general position on the travel path at which the strand substantially solidifies, preferably by calculating a difference between loads on adjacent rolls and determining when the difference is less than a predetermined value.

A monitoring and control system is for a strand guide roll assembly of a continuous casting machine which includes a plurality of rolls spaced apart generally along a path of travel of a strand from an input end located adjacent to a mold to an output end. The system includes a plurality of sensors each coupled with a separate one of the rolls so as to be spaced apart generally along the travel path, each sensor senses magnitude of a load on the coupled roll. A logic circuit is coupled with each sensor so as to receive input from the sensors corresponding to load magnitude. The logic circuit is configured to determine from the sensor input a general position on the travel path at which the strand substantially solidifies, preferably by calculating a difference between loads on adjacent rolls and determining when the difference is less than a predetermined value.

Disclosed is an amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip. When the amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip is cut into a plurality of narrow strips having a same width of less than or equal to 10 mm, a relative length difference among the plurality of narrow strips is not greater than 0.50%. Further disclosed is a method for manufacturing the amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip. The amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip has good surface flatness. The transverse temperature non-uniformity of molten steel inside a melting pool and the surface temperature non-uniformity of a cooling roller within a strip manufacturing position range are controlled in a process of manufacturing the amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip, so that the surface flatness of the manufactured strip is improved. The manufacturing process is simple and convenient.

Disclosed is an amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip. When the amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip is cut into a plurality of narrow strips having a same width of less than or equal to 10 mm, a relative length difference among the plurality of narrow strips is not greater than 0.50%. Further disclosed is a method for manufacturing the amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip. The amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip has good surface flatness. The transverse temperature non-uniformity of molten steel inside a melting pool and the surface temperature non-uniformity of a cooling roller within a strip manufacturing position range are controlled in a process of manufacturing the amorphous nanocrystalline alloy strip, so that the surface flatness of the manufactured strip is improved. The manufacturing process is simple and convenient.

Disclosed is a continuous casting ingot mold for metals, of the type made of an assembly of metal plates mounted against cooling devices configured to allow cooling of the metal plates by the circulation of a liquid coolant. Said ingot mold comprises an optical fiber with a diameter greater than 1.6 mm, having a plurality of fiber Bragg grating filters and extending in a wall of at least one of said plates in a direction that is not parallel to the axis of casting of the ingot mold.

Disclosed is a continuous casting ingot mold for metals, of the type made of an assembly of metal plates mounted against cooling devices configured to allow cooling of the metal plates by the circulation of a liquid coolant. Said ingot mold comprises an optical fiber with a diameter greater than 1.6 mm, having a plurality of fiber Bragg grating filters and extending in a wall of at least one of said plates in a direction that is not parallel to the axis of casting of the ingot 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.

A high strength steel sheet having excellent surface quality and formability with a tensile strength of 980 MPa or more and a TS-El balance of 30000 MPa % or more is provided. A high strength steel sheet comprises: a chemical composition containing C: 0.08% to 0.30%, Si: 2.0% or less, Mn: more than 3.0% and 10.0% or less, P: 0.05% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 1.5% or less, Ti: 0.010% to 0.300%, and N: 0.0020% to 0.0100% in a range satisfying 1.1(Ti+Mn.sup.1/2/400)/(0.01+5N)6.0; and a microstructure including a retained austenite phase and a ferrite phase, wherein a ratio Mn/Mn of an average Mn concentration (Mn) of the retained austenite phase to an average Mn concentration (Mn) of the ferrite phase is 1.5 or more.