Copper Mould Tubes

Copper mould tubes are an integral part in continuous casting process and contribute a major role in smooth and trouble-free production and quality of the casted billets, blooms and slabs. Their function is to receive the molten steel and to allow rapid heat transfer from the steel to the cooling water to enable quick solidification.
The mould must exhibit excellent thermal conductivity, be resistant for thermal erosion, and be resistant to distortion from thermal stress. So far only copper and a few copper alloys meet the above conditions, both economically and technically.

INNER SURFACE COATINGS
Chrome plating is furnished inner walls of copper mould tube to increase the wear resistance and improve the service life of the tube. Thickness and type of chrome plating plays vital role in smooth finish of the billet and
more importantly it resists wear and influences on the life of copper mould tube. Type of Chrome coating and its thickness have advantages as well as disadvantages.

SOLIDIFICATION
The rate of solidification in the continuous casting process dictates the speed of production. The molten steel which is in contact with the inner faces of the copper mould, starts to solidify as rapidly as the heat is extracted, forming a shell.
The shell increases in thickness as more heat is extracted, and eventually total solidification is achieved. The co-process is similar to the solidification of ingots in ingot moulds. In continuous casting, the whole process is speeded up, with the aim to produce and homogeneous shell growth. With the shrinkage during steel solidifying, there might be an air gap between the steel strand and the mould inside wall, which will seriously reduce the thermal conduction of steel.

• Length: 700, 750, 780, 785, 800, 815 – 1200 mm.
• Material: TP2 / Cu-DHP, Cu-Ag, Cu-Cr-Zr
• Taper: Different taper designs are used to produce steel billets in continuous casting, such as;

• Single Taper
• Double Taper
• Tripple Taper
• Multi Taper
• Parabolic Taper

Physical and Chemical Properties of Copper Mould Tubes