Abstract:
Electrostatic application of a dusting of dry, electrostatically adherable, thermally insulative powder particles (38) over a workface (6a) of a moving mold in a continuous metal-casting machine in which the mold surface or surfaces which provide the workface or workfaces revolve in a generally oval course. A dry dusting of protective powder particles (38) of refractory material is applied to the workface by being dispensed entrained in a plurality of air streams uniformly spaced across a width of the workface (6a). The air streams are deflected toward the workface by a deflector surface (37), and after being deflected the powder particles are electrostatically charged by suitable electrostatic apparatus (33) prior to contact with the workface (6a). The moving mold having the workface to be dusted is electrically grounded (43) for attracting the electrostatically charged powder particles (39) for adhering them to the workface (6a). The resultant coating formed by the dusting so deposited is remarkably uniform over a substantial area of the workface, a phenomenon explainable by mutual electrostatic repulsion of the dry powder particles being deposited. Continuously re-applied dusting over the workface during a continuous cast provides an immediately useful repair or replacement of dusting powder lost from the coating on the workface of a revolving mold surface during casting. The dusting may be removed at will from the workface by means of an air knife, and then immediately the workface is coated again by electrostatic application of a dry dusting of the protective powder particles.
Abstract:
An apparatus for making fusion-bonded matrix coatings on endless, flexible metallic casting belts for continuous casting machines is described. The fusion-bonded matrix coating comprises a nonmetallic refractory material interspersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix of heat-resistant metal or metal alloy, for example nickel or nickel alloy. The coating is applied to a revolving belt (10,20) being supported and driven by pulleys (34,36) in a machine by thermally spraying a powdered mixture directly onto the roughened casting surface of the belt. The machine holds the revolving belt under tension and applies cooling to the rear surface of the revolving belt (10,12) opposite to the region where the thermal spray gun (66) is applying the coating to the belt (10,20), and causes the thermal spray gun (66) to traverse uniformly traversely across the belt. The result is to insulate and protect the underlying belt from intimate molten metal contact. The life of the coated belts is dramatically increased, and the surface quality and properties of the cast product are significantly improved.
Abstract:
An apparatus for making fusion-bonded matrix coatings on endless, flexible metallic casting belts for continuous casting machines is described. The fusion-bonded matrix coating comprises a nonmetallic refractory material interspersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix of heat-resistant metal or metal alloy, for example nickel or nickel alloy. The coating is applied to a revolving belt (10,20) being supported and driven by pulleys (34,36) in a machine by thermally spraying a powdered mixture directly onto the roughened casting surface of the belt. The machine holds the revolving belt under tension and applies cooling to the rear surface of the revolving belt (10,12) opposite to the region where the thermal spray gun (66) is applying the coating to the belt (10,20), and causes the thermal spray gun (66) to traverse uniformly traversely across the belt. The result is to insulate and protect the underlying belt from intimate molten metal contact. The life of the coated belts is dramatically increased, and the surface quality and properties of the cast product are significantly improved.
Abstract:
A fusion-bonded matrix coating on endless, flexible metallic casting belts for continuous casting machines is described. The fusion-bonded matrix coating comprises a nonmetallic refractory material interspersed substantially uniformly throughout a matrix of heat-resistant metal or metal alloy, for example nickel or nickel alloy. The coating is applied to a revolving belt (10,20) being supported and driven by pulleys (34,36) in a machine by thermally spraying a powdered mixture directly onto the roughened casting surface of the belt. The machine holds the revolving belt under tension and applies cooling to the rear surface of the revolving belt (10,20) opposite to the region where the thermal spray gun (66) is applying the coating to the belt (10,20), and causes the thermal spray gun (66) to traverse uniformly transversely across the belt. The result is to insulate and protect the underlying belt from intimate molten metal contact. The life of the coated belts is dramatically increased, and the surface quality and properties of the cast product are significantly improved.