Hot Tops for STeel Ingots - Their Developments as Influenced by Solidification Patterns

Abstract

This paper is concerned with hot tops for steel ingots, an area in which Foseco has been actively involved for many years. After defining the need for hot tops, the histo-rical devleopment is reviewed, highlighting the major steps taken in the development of the two hot top compon-ents - sideliner and top cover, in particular the impact made by the introduction of lightweight expandable PROFAX @ side-liners and succesive generations of anti-piping compounds. It next examines current developments, in particular superlightweight exothermic sideliners, and anti-piping is a review of the ancillary testing techn-iques including a computer model for predicting ingot solidification profiles. Finally the future course of hot topping practice is considered highlighting those areas in which further developments are anticipated.