The invention relates to a method for working a metal casting strand (17) that is round in cross-section, by means of a reduction in cross-section in the final solidification region with the aid of at least three forming tools which are distributed around the circumference and act simultaneously on the casting strand (17). In order to provide advantageous working conditions, according to the invention the casting strand (17) is formed by forging tools (2, 3) constituting the forming tools in a longitudinal portion for each forming stroke, which portion corresponds to at least a fourth of the strand diameter before the reduction in cross-section, and the forging tools (2, 3) are rotated by an angle step about the axis of the casting strand (17) between the forming strokes.

An apparatus for producing and further processing slabs of a metal, preferably steel, comprises: a continuous casting apparatus, which is designed to produce at least one cast strand and to transport it in a transport direction; a cutting device, which is arranged behind the continuous casting apparatus, as seen in the transport direction, and is designed to cut the cast strand into slabs; at least a first route and a second route, which implement, at least in some portions, different process lines for the further processing of the slabs; and a process control system, which is designed to make a route decision on a slab-specific basis as a function of at least one measured or calculated process parameter, which route decision assigns one of the plurality of routes to the respective slab, and to initiate the further processing of the corresponding slab along the assigned route.

An apparatus for producing and further processing slabs of a metal, preferably steel, comprises: a continuous casting apparatus, which is designed to produce at least one cast strand and to transport it in a transport direction; a cutting device, which is arranged behind the continuous casting apparatus, as seen in the transport direction, and is designed to cut the cast strand into slabs; at least a first route and a second route, which implement, at least in some portions, different process lines for the further processing of the slabs; and a process control system, which is designed to make a route decision on a slab-specific basis as a function of at least one measured or calculated process parameter, which route decision assigns one of the plurality of routes to the respective slab, and to initiate the further processing of the corresponding slab along the assigned route.

This slab is a slab of high-Al steel containing C: 0.02 mass % to 0.50 mass % and Al: 0.20 mass % to 2.00 mass %, in which, in a case where [Zr], [Ti], [Al], and [N] each represent a content (mass %) in the slab, a Zr content and a Ti content satisfy a relationship of [Zr]+0.2×[Ti]≥4/3×[Al]×[N], and the Zr content satisfies a relationship of 0.0010 mass %≤[Zr].

This slab is a slab of high-Al steel containing C: 0.02 mass % to 0.50 mass % and Al: 0.20 mass % to 2.00 mass %, in which, in a case where [Zr], [Ti], [Al], and [N] each represent a content (mass %) in the slab, a Zr content and a Ti content satisfy a relationship of [Zr]+0.2×[Ti]≥4/3×[Al]×[N], and the Zr content satisfies a relationship of 0.0010 mass %≤[Zr].

A continuous casting method of steel includes the step of bulging wide side surfaces of a slab having there inside an unsolidified layer with a total intentional bulging amount of 3 to 10 mm by increasing stepwise toward a downstream side in a casting direction a roller gap of a plurality of pairs of slab support rollers disposed in a continuous casting machine.

Described herein are techniques for improving the grain structure of a metal product by applying ultrasonic energy to a continuously cast metal product at a position downstream from the casting region and allowing the ultrasonic energy to propagate through the metal product to the solidification region. At the solidification region, the ultrasonic energy can interact with the growing metal grains, such as to deagglomerate and disperse nucleating particles and to disrupt and fragment dendrites as they grow, which can promote additional nucleation and result in smaller grain sizes.

Described herein are techniques for improving the grain structure of a metal product by applying ultrasonic energy to a continuously cast metal product at a position downstream from the casting region and allowing the ultrasonic energy to propagate through the metal product to the solidification region. At the solidification region, the ultrasonic energy can interact with the growing metal grains, such as to deagglomerate and disperse nucleating particles and to disrupt and fragment dendrites as they grow, which can promote additional nucleation and result in smaller grain sizes.

A roller stand for a continuous billet casting machine, having a carrying frame for mounting at least one lower supporting roller and at least two lateral supporting rollers. The lateral supporting rollers are mounted elastically on the carrying frame by means of at least one passive elastic element, and have an amount of elasticity at least in a direction perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the lateral supporting rollers. A method for determining the position and/or the shape of a billet is provided. During passage through at least one roller stand, alterations in the position at least of the lateral supporting rollers relative to a reference are detected and, on the basis of this information, the shape of the billet and/or the position of the billet in relation to the center line of the billet-guide channel are/is determined.

A method for producing a strip using a rapid solidification technology is provided. A melt is poured onto a moving outer surface of a rotating casting wheel, the melt is solidified on the outer surface and a strip is formed. A gaseous jet is directed at the moving outer surface and the outer surface of the casting wheel is worked with the jet. The jet comprises CO.sub.2 and at least part of this CO.sub.2 strikes the moving outer surface of the casting wheel in a solid state.