Analysis of solidification process in aluminum semicontinuous casting slab by monitoring the mold temperature

For analysis of solidification process in aluminum semicontinuous slab casting, temperature at 78 different points of the mold were measured continuously for the several casting conditions. At the initial stage of casting, solidification shell formation and bowing on slab narrow face could be monitored by mold temperature. At the steady state, the amount of thermal transfers from slab to mold on many mold positions could be calculated from the measured mold temperature. The temperature of molten metal near the meniscus and the slab cooling rate near the slab surface which were related to slab surface quality, could also be estimated by mold temperature. Moreover, a sign of metal break out was successfully detected by monitoring mold temperature.