Vertical twin-roll strip casting of steel

Abstract

Vertical strip casting enables the near-net-shape production of hot rolled steel strip in a compact process. In less than half a second, the liquid steel melt solidifies in contact with the casting rolls to a one to five millimetres thin strip. Since the strip casting process combines casting and rolling in one single process, slab re-heating and numerous hot rolling steps can be eliminated. Thus, an efficient, economical and environmental friendly production of steel is possible. Today, strip casting of steel is already used in a few industrial steel plants. Recent developments allow for the production and further processing of advanced high strength steels and steels with a nanocrystalline structure by strip casting. Regarding the process design, research activities focus on casting of tailored strips with defined thickness distribution across the strip length or width. Thus, strip casting can be used for the production of tailored hot strips in a considerable shortened process.