Provided is a ZrO.sub.2—CaO—C based refractory material which is capable of maintaining high adhesion resistance over a long period of time, while exhibiting significant slaking resistance, and suppressing self-fluxing, i.e., exhibiting corrosion-erosion resistance. The refractory material comprises a CaO—ZrO.sub.2 composition containing a CaO component in an amount of 40% by mass to 60% by mass, wherein a mass ratio of the CaO component to a ZrO.sub.2 component is 0.67 to 1.5, and wherein the CaO—ZrO.sub.2 composition includes a eutectic microstructure of CaO crystals and CaZrO.sub.3 crystals, wherein a width of each of the CaO crystals observable in a cross-sectional microstructure is 50 μm or less.

Provided is a seating block installation structure capable of preventing the occurrence of a gap between a nozzle or plug installed in a bottom portion of a molten metal vessel and a plate or the like located on the lower side of the nozzle or plug, and a gap between the nozzle or plug and a seating block located on the upper side of or on the outer peripheral side of the nozzle or plug. In the seating block installation structure, a seating block disposed to surround a nozzle for discharging therethrough molten metal downwardly from the bottom portion of the molten metal vessel or a plug is fixed to a shell of the bottom portion of the molten metal vessel by a connecting member.

The present invention is related to a method for centering a pouring tube in a pouring tube assembly using a multi-piece centering sleeve by inserting a pouring tube into a holding casting aperture in a holding casting; pouring grout to fill a portion of a gap between the pouring tube and the holding casting; slipping the centering sleeve over the outside of the pouring tube until it is press fit in a portion of the gap between the pouring tube and the holding casting; adjusting the centering sleeve to center-position the pouring tube; grouting the remainder of the gap to fill all voids in the gap; installing a parting ring on top of the holding casting; and installing a holding ring around the holding casting and parting ring.

The present invention is related to a method for centering a pouring tube in a pouring tube assembly using a multi-piece centering sleeve by inserting a pouring tube into a holding casting aperture in a holding casting; pouring grout to fill a portion of a gap between the pouring tube and the holding casting; slipping the centering sleeve over the outside of the pouring tube until it is press fit in a portion of the gap between the pouring tube and the holding casting; adjusting the centering sleeve to center-position the pouring tube; grouting the remainder of the gap to fill all voids in the gap; installing a parting ring on top of the holding casting; and installing a holding ring around the holding casting and parting ring.

A collector nozzle for continuous casting may include: a nozzle body extended toward a shroud nozzle, and having an internal movement path through which molten steel is moved; a first case covering a side surface of the nozzle body; and a second case including a second metal component, connected to the first case, and covering an exit surface of the nozzle body facing the shroud nozzle. The first case can include a first metal component, and the first and second cases may be connected through welding or formed as one body.

A collector nozzle for continuous casting may include: a nozzle body extended toward a shroud nozzle, and having an internal movement path through which molten steel is moved; a first case covering a side surface of the nozzle body; and a second case including a second metal component, connected to the first case, and covering an exit surface of the nozzle body facing the shroud nozzle. The first case can include a first metal component, and the first and second cases may be connected through welding or formed as one body.

The present invention is related to a pouring tube assembly. The pouring tube assembly comprises a holding tank assembly capable of containing a molten metal. A pouring tube is in flow communication with the holding tank assembly wherein the pouring tube is capable of receiving the molten metal from the holding tank assembly and depositing molten metal in a mold above the pouring tube. A sleeve is removably disposed between the pouring tube and a portion of the holding casting wherein the sleeve comprises mating sleeve portions with symmetrically disposed protrusions and recesses.

A slab nozzle for use in a continuous slab casting installation is characterized by a specific geometry of the outer wall of a downstream portion thereof which is inserted in a slab mould cavity. The specific geometry promotes a “round-about” effect whereby converging opposite streams of molten metal flowing towards two opposite flanks of the slab nozzle are each preferentially deviated towards one side of the slab nozzle where they can freely flow through the narrow channels formed between the slab nozzle and the slab mould cavity wall without impinging with one another. This prolongs the service life of the slab nozzle by substantially reducing the erosion rate of the outer wall thereof.

The present invention is related to a pouring tube assembly. The pouring tube assembly comprises a holding tank assembly capable of containing a molten metal. A pouring tube is in flow communication with the holding tank assembly wherein the pouring tube is capable of receiving the molten metal from the holding tank assembly and depositing molten metal in a mold above the pouring tube. A sleeve is removably disposed between the pouring tube and a portion of the holding casting wherein the sleeve comprises mating sleeve portions with symmetrically disposed protrusions and recesses.

Provided is a sealing block installation structure capable of preventing the occurrence of a gap between a nozzle or plug installed in a bottom portion of a molten metal vessel and a plate or the like located on the lower side of the nozzle or plug, and a gap between the nozzle or plug and a sealing block located on the upper side of or on the outer peripheral side of the nozzle or plug. In the seating block installation structure, a seating block 2 disposed to surround a nozzle for discharging therethrough molten metal downwardly from the bottom portion of the molten metal vessel or a plug is fixed to a shell of the bottom portion of the molten metal vessel by a connecting member 3.