The Casting Powders Book

1. Introduction and Overview.- 2. Slag Infiltration, Lubrication and Frictional Forces.- 3. Heat Transfer in the Mould and Shell Solidification.- 4. How to Manipulate Slag Behaviour in the Mould.- 5. Effect of Casting Variables on Mould Flux Performance.- 6. Different Types of Mould Powders.- 7. Fluxes for Ingot Casting.- 8. Manufacture of Mould Fluxes.- 9. Properties of Mould Fluxes and Slag Films.- 10. Selection of Mould Fluxes and Special Mould Fluxes for Continuous Casting.- 11. Using Mould Fluxes to Minimise Defects and Process Problems.

Ken Mills worked at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington from 1963-1999 and has been in the Department of Materials, Imperial College from 1995-present. His primary interest at NPL was in the measurement of the physical properties of materials involved in high temperature processes (metals, slags and refractories). He has been working on mould powders for continuous casting for more than 35 years and formed the UK Working Group on Casting Powders and was a member of the Europ. Coal & Steel Committee on Theoretical Steelmaking for more than 10years. During his time at NPL he became interested in the factors affecting the continuous casting process and the mechanisms responsible for process problems and defects. His interest in this area has led to the awards of the Bessemer Gold Medal (2013) and Honorary Membership of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (2003). At Imperial College he lectured in Process Metallurgy and in Heat and Fluid flow. His research at ImperialCollege has been largely focused on continuous casting with research on i. the properties and performance of continuous casting slags ii. mathematical modelling of the process. However, other steelmaking -related projects were also carried out. In recent years he has revived his interest in the estimation of physical models of slags and metals (for use in the macro model) from their chemical composition. He has published three books, more than 200 journal papers and has contributed in chapters to several books. He is the most cited author in this field of mould powders.
Carl-Åke Däcker, now working as Senior Scientific Advisor previously being Manager of the Materials& Process Development Department at Swerea KIMAB. In his work at the Institute he has dedicated most of his own research on mould powder development in close co-operation with the Swedish steelmakers and published around 10 conference papers in this field. In 2012 he was awarded Professor Hasse Fredriksson