The invention concerns a stopper rod and a method to provide a uniform gas curtain around a stopper rod.

The invention relates to a ceramic refractory stopper, shaped as a rod with a total axial length LS, comprising a) a stopper body (12) of an axial length LB, a first end section (12U) of which being equipped with means to fasten the stopper body (12) to a raise and lowering device, and a second end section (12L) of which being followed by b) a dome-like stopper head (14) of an axial length LH, wherein c) the stopper body (12) features at least one outer planar surface section (P1, P2, P3), which extends along at least 50% of the axial length LB of the stopper body (12).

A stopper for continuous casting that is intended to prevent adhesion of inclusions to the vicinity of a fitting part of a stopper, and to prevent a nose region of the stopper from cracking or peeling off due to insufficient strength. The stopper for continuous casting includes a gas flow cavity in a vertically-extending central part thereof. In at least part of a vertical section of a nose periphery region of the stopper, a porous refractory material having a gas permeability is arranged on the side of an outer peripheral surface of the nose periphery region. A refractory material having higher strength than that of the porous refractory material is arranged on the side of an inner peripheral surface of the nose periphery region.

A ventilating stopper rod has a temperature measurement function and is used for continuous casting. The stopper rod has a rod body, a rod head, a temperature measurement unit, a connecting pipe and exhaust passages; the rod body is a hollow structure; the upper end of the rod body is connected with the connecting pipe; the lower end of the rod body is connected with the rod head; the temperature measurement unit is used for measuring the temperature of the molten steel; the open end of the temperature measurement unit is connected with the rod head and communicates with the inner cavity of the rod body; the closed end of the temperature measurement unit extends out from the lower end of the rod head and is exposed from the rod head.

Stopper rod (100) for controlling the flow of molten metal and for inducing a rotational flow of molten metal, said stopper rod (100) comprising a rod-shaped stopper body (101), said rod-shaped stopper body (101) extending along a central longitudinal axis (L) from a first end (105) to a second end (107), said rod-shaped stopper body (101) comprising a nose (103) at said second end (107), wherein said nose (103) provides an exterior surface; a chamber (109), said chamber (109) extending along said central longitudinal axis (L) within said stopper body (101) from said first end (105) towards said second end (107) and ending at a distance from said second end (107); at least one channel (111), preferably a plurality of channels (111), being provided on an exterior surface of said rod-shaped stopper body (101) and at least partially on said exterior surface of said nose (103), and at least partially running around said central longitudinal axis (L), and progressing along the direction of said central longitudinal axis (L); gas supply connecting means (123), said gas supply connecting means (123) connecting said chamber (109) and each of said at least one channel (111).