For over a decade, Continuous Casting has been a maturetechnology that has prevailed in the steel industry. ConventionalCC is still undergoing small but deep and subtle transformations.Thin Slab Casting is developing at a rate commensurate with theneed of new capacity. Strip Casting has been limited to industrialpilot lines, although commercial implementations have beenannounced. In the perspective of the changes that the steel industry will haveto undergo in the 21st century (control of Greenhouse Gasemissions in particular), continuous casting will be one of theinvariants to provide a degree of stability. Indeed, solidification willmost probably continue to be performed on continuous casters.

As regards conditions in the mould, Continuous Casting of 400mm thick slabs can differ from conventional slab casting. Specificfeatures of thick slab casting are reported, concerning heat fluxes,both integral and local. Local heat flux has been determinedthrough an instrumented mould along with thermal modeling ofthe copper plate. Integral heat withdrawal data are compared withdata from conventional slab casting. The effect of steelcomposition on integral and local heat extraction has beenevaluated and interpreted in relation to residence times in themould and to the relevant thermal resistances. The influence oftundish temperature on superheat in the mould and on heatremoval was quantified. Oscillation mark depth and mould powderconsumption have been related to heat withdrawal. Crackingdefects were characterized in dependence on mould heat fluxdensities.

Clogging of Continuous Casting nozzle has a detrimental effecton productivity and product quality; it also increases productioncosts and goes against security. Many factors contribute to theclogging phenomenon, including the detailed process parametersof continuous casting and secondary metallurgy. Clogging can be effectively limited by Argon injection that isusually performed through the stopper rod. The nature andquality of the refractory equipment is another factor that must beconsidered carefully. The clogging mechanism has been clearlyascribed to the level and nature of non metallic inclusions, thus tothe secondary metallurgy process. Effective counter measures that have been successfullyimplemented in Arcelor to achieve long sequence casting arepresented.