Method for producing metal strips by continuous casting and rolling

Abstract

A method relates to producing metal strips by casting rolling. A slab ( 3 ) is first cast in a casting machine ( 2 ). The slab ( 3 ) is cleaned in a cleaning device ( 4 ) placed after the casting machine ( 2 ) in the conveying direction. The slab ( 3 ) then undergoes a heat treatment in a heat treatment device ( 11 ). Between the cleaning device ( 4 ) and the heat treatment device ( 11 ), the slab ( 3 ) undergoes a smoothing process by means of two interacting smoothing rolls ( 13 , 14 ). In order to reduce energy and production costs and to improve the surface of the slabs prior to the first forming process, the smoothing process is carried out such that the slab ( 3 ) does not undergo a substantial reduction in thickness, and the roughness depth of the smoothed surface of the slab ( 3 ) is reduced.

1 . - 10 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing metal strips by continuous casting and rolling, comprising:
 casting a slab ( 3 ) in a casting machine ( 2 );   cleaning the slab ( 3 ) in a cleaning device ( 4 ) downstream of the casting machine ( 2 );   heat treating the slab ( 3 ) in a heat treatment device ( 11 ); and   smoothing the slab ( 3 ) by two interacting smoothing rolls ( 13 ,  14 ) between the cleaning device ( 4 ) and the heat treatment device ( 11 ) and thereby reducing a roughness depth of surfaces of the slab ( 3 ),   wherein a reduction in thickness the slab ( 3 ) during the smoothing is less than 10%.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein a mean roughness value of the surfaces of the slab ( 3 ) after the smoothing is at most  10  μm.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein a mean roughness value of the surfaces of the slab ( 3 ) after the smoothing is at most 8 μm.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the slab ( 3 ) undergoes the smoothing in a fully solidified state.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the reduction in thickness of the slab ( 3 ) during the smoothing is less than 5%.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the reduction in thickness of the slab ( 3 ) during the smoothing is less than 3%.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the two interacting smoothing rolls ( 13 ,  14 ) exert a force between 3,000 kN and 5,000 kN acting normally on the slab during the smoothing.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the two interacting smoothing rolls ( 13 ,  14 ) exert a force between 3,500 kN and 4,500 kN acting normally on the slab during the smoothing.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the two cooperating smoothing rolls ( 13 ,  14 ) each have a roll diameter between 500 mm and 700 mm.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the two cooperating smoothing rolls ( 13 ,  14 ) each have a roll diameter between 550 mm and 650 mm.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the cleaning in the cleaning device is a descaling by fluid descaling or scarfing.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 cooling the smoothing rolls ( 13 ,  14 ) during the smoothing.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the smoothing is carried out at a speed between 1.0 and 6.0 m/min.