It is intended to suppress flaming and smoking due to combustion of combustible substances in a certain-shaped joint material, while maintaining hot sealability of the certain-shaped joint material. A certain-shaped joint material for hot installation is obtained by: adding organic additives to a blend in a combined amount of 26 mass % to 50 mass %, with respect to and in addition to 100 mass % of the blend, wherein the blend comprises 50 mass % to 90 mass % of gibbsite type aluminum hydroxide raw material, 1 mass % to 9 mass % of clay, and 9 mass % to 23 mass % of graphite, with the remainder mainly composed of an additional refractory raw material; and subjecting the resulting mixture to kneading, forming and drying.

It is intended to suppress flaming and smoking due to combustion of combustible substances in a certain-shaped joint material, while maintaining hot sealability of the certain-shaped joint material. A certain-shaped joint material for hot installation is obtained by: adding organic additives to a blend in a combined amount of 26 mass % to 50 mass %, with respect to and in addition to 100 mass % of the blend, wherein the blend comprises 50 mass % to 90 mass % of gibbsite type aluminum hydroxide raw material, 1 mass % to 9 mass % of clay, and 9 mass % to 23 mass % of graphite, with the remainder mainly composed of an additional refractory raw material; and subjecting the resulting mixture to kneading, forming and drying.

With a method for detecting variables in an outlet of a metallurgical vessel, different variables in the outlet are detected or measured by at least one coil surrounding the outlet channel and/or an induction coil of an induction heater as a monitoring system, wherein the variables relate to the slag portion when pouring out the metal melt, wear condition of refractory parts in the outlet channel, the solidified metal melt, flow rate and/or plugging mass in the outlet channel. After evaluation, a closure element for the outlet is actuated, heating of the metal in the outlet channel is activated and/or renewal of the outlet channel is triggered. In this way, optimum operation in the pouring of metal melt out of a vessel is simply achieved, wherein occurrence of irregularities are detected during the entire pouring, and pouring out of slag can be successfully prevented at the end of the pouring.

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.

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.

Slide closure unit on the spout of a metallurgical vessel, preferably a copper-anode furnace, includes a housing in which refractory closure plates, as well as at least one connecting refractory inner casing, are arranged. A removable induction heater is provided, having at least one induction coil surrounding the refractory inner casing outside of the housing. In this way, it is possible to constantly keep the melt located in the outlet channel of the spout sufficiently warm so that it does not freeze before and/or during the pouring of the melt, or that any frozen metal and/or slag can be melted in the spout.

A nozzle assembly, for a metal casting apparatus selected from a sliding gate and a tube exchange device, comprises a first refractory element comprising a first coupling surface which includes a first bore aperture, and a second refractory element comprising a second coupling surface, which includes a second bore aperture, the first and second elements being coupled to one another in a sliding translation relationship through their respective first and second coupling surfaces such that the first and second bore apertures can be brought into and out of registry to define, when in registry, a continuous bore for discharging molten metal from a molten metal inlet to a molten metal outlet of said nozzle assembly. A sealing member is provided between the first and second coupling surfaces of the first and second elements. The sealing member comprises a thermally intumescent material.

A nozzle assembly, for a metal casting apparatus selected from a sliding gate and a tube exchange device, comprises a first refractory element comprising a first coupling surface which includes a first bore aperture, and a second refractory element comprising a second coupling surface, which includes a second bore aperture, the first and second elements being coupled to one another in a sliding translation relationship through their respective first and second coupling surfaces such that the first and second bore apertures can be brought into and out of registry to define, when in registry, a continuous bore for discharging molten metal from a molten metal inlet to a molten metal outlet of said nozzle assembly. A sealing member is provided between the first and second coupling surfaces of the first and second elements. The sealing member comprises a thermally intumescent material.

A molten metal holding and pouring box with a rectangular-shaped upper section and a pyramidal-shaped lower section provides a relatively constant flow of molten metal being poured from the box through each of two bottom nozzles into two separate foundry molds at the same time. The two bottom nozzles are contained in a unitary dual nozzle assembly that facilitates replacement as required by wear, or a change in location of the sprue cups in the two separate foundry molds being filled with molten metal.

A molten metal holding and pouring box with a rectangular-shaped upper section and a pyramidal-shaped lower section provides a relatively constant flow of molten metal being poured from the box through each of two bottom nozzles into two separate foundry molds at the same time. The two bottom nozzles are contained in a unitary dual nozzle assembly that facilitates replacement as required by wear, or a change in location of the sprue cups in the two separate foundry molds being filled with molten metal.