A mold flux for continuous casting has a base material composition containing 25 to 60 mass % of CaO, 15 to 45 mass % of SiO.sub.2, 5 to 25 mass % of F, 0.2 to 1.0 mass % of S, and 0 to 20 mass % of a total of Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and K.sub.2O, and in the base material composition, f(1) is 0.90 to 1.90, f(2) is 0.10 to 0.40, f(3) is 0 to 0.40, and a total of CaO, SiO.sub.2, F, S, Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and K.sub.2O is 90 to 100 mass %.

A mold flux for continuous casting has a base material composition containing 25 to 60 mass % of CaO, 15 to 45 mass % of SiO.sub.2, 5 to 25 mass % of F, 0.2 to 1.0 mass % of S, and 0 to 20 mass % of a total of Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and K.sub.2O, and in the base material composition, f(1) is 0.90 to 1.90, f(2) is 0.10 to 0.40, f(3) is 0 to 0.40, and a total of CaO, SiO.sub.2, F, S, Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and K.sub.2O is 90 to 100 mass %.

A method for producing granulates, particularly for use as thermal insulation for a metal melt may include mixing a powdery mineral with a binder, and the mixture may be granulated in order to produce a semi-finished product. The granulate mixture or the semi-finished product may be heated rapidly to a temperature above the melting temperature or decomposition temperature of the binder, which may be in the form of a salt, so that the binder decomposes, whereby gas is released and the volume increases. The apparent density of the granulate mixture may decrease, and therefore the apparent density of the finished product may decrease with respect to the semi-finished product.

A method for producing granulates, particularly for use as thermal insulation for a metal melt may include mixing a powdery mineral with a binder, and the mixture may be granulated in order to produce a semi-finished product. The granulate mixture or the semi-finished product may be heated rapidly to a temperature above the melting temperature or decomposition temperature of the binder, which may be in the form of a salt, so that the binder decomposes, whereby gas is released and the volume increases. The apparent density of the granulate mixture may decrease, and therefore the apparent density of the finished product may decrease with respect to the semi-finished product.

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.

Method for producing ingots made of metal having cross-sectional areas of at least 0.10 m.sup.2 of a round, square or rectangular shape through casting of metal or molten steel either directly from the casting ladle (1) or using a fireproof lined intermediate vessel (3) in a short, water-cooled ingot mold open downwards (4) and withdrawing of the solidified ingot (6) from the same downwardly movable withdrawing tool (8), wherein the casting process is continued with a casting rate determined in accordance with the casting cross-section for as long as the desired or maximum ingot length determined by the height of lift of the withdrawing tool (8) is reached, and additional liquid metal is fed at the end of the regular casting process to an extent that at least the contraction of the metal and steel melt occurring during solidification is balanced during, and whereby after completion of the regular casting process and completion of the ingot withdrawal, the casting process is continued with a casting rate reduced by at least the Factor 10 from the heatable casting ladle (1) or the heatable intermediate vessel (3) or a distribution container, and is reduced progressively or continuously at the end of the solidification to 10% the rate at the start of the additional casting.

Method for producing ingots made of metal having cross-sectional areas of at least 0.10 m.sup.2 of a round, square or rectangular shape through casting of metal or molten steel either directly from the casting ladle (1) or using a fireproof lined intermediate vessel (3) in a short, water-cooled ingot mold open downwards (4) and withdrawing of the solidified ingot (6) from the same downwardly movable withdrawing tool (8), wherein the casting process is continued with a casting rate determined in accordance with the casting cross-section for as long as the desired or maximum ingot length determined by the height of lift of the withdrawing tool (8) is reached, and additional liquid metal is fed at the end of the regular casting process to an extent that at least the contraction of the metal and steel melt occurring during solidification is balanced during, and whereby after completion of the regular casting process and completion of the ingot withdrawal, the casting process is continued with a casting rate reduced by at least the Factor 10 from the heatable casting ladle (1) or the heatable intermediate vessel (3) or a distribution container, and is reduced progressively or continuously at the end of the solidification to 10% the rate at the start of the additional casting.