PREVENTION OF OXIDATION OF CONTINUOUS CASTING BILLET

PURPOSE:To prevent oxidation of a continuous casting billet from which the scale on the end face is removed by blowing ceramics subjected to a component adjustment so as to have the solid phase rate in a heating temp. range larger than specific % to said billet and heating the billet. CONSTITUTION:Ceramics consisting of components such as SiO2, Zr2O3, P2O5, CaO, Na2O, K2O, B2O and water are subjected to a component adjustment in such a way that the solid phase rate of the ceramics in the heating temp. range for the purpose of rolling a continuous casting billet attains >=70%. Such ceramics are blown to the end face of the billet which is preliminarily descaled and is kept in a temp. range of 0-1,200 deg.C prior to charging into a heating furnace where the billet is heated. The protective film of the solid-liquid coexistence phase prevents the penetration of the atmosphere gas from the end face to the central porous layer at the heat treating temp. of the continuous casting billet according to the above-mentioned method. The oxidation of the billet and the porosity defect in the central part are thus prevented.