Effects of some process variables on structure and properties of semicontinuously cast 70–30 brass slabs in an industrial environment

The speed of slab withdrawal from the mould and the temperature of the cooling water in a semicontinuous casting process for 70–30 brass slabs (∼62 × 13·5 cm cross-section) were varied in production runs. The variation of these process parameters over limited ranges had significant effects on the resultant macro- and microstructures, as well as on the cross-sectional shape of the slab, its surface quality, and the density of the cast product. Increasing the slab-casting speed from 100 to 250 Inm/mingave a product with a finer and more uniform macro- and microstructure, with higher density and tensile strength and improved surface quality. However, these were obtained at the expense of increasing the slab shape distortion. Increasing the cooling-water temperature from 20° to 35°C produced coarser macro- and microstructures and marginally lowered the density values and the tensile strength. It is concluded that this type of application of research techniques in the industrial environment could be used to optimize the product quality.