Mold for continuous casting of metal

Abstract

Tubular copper moulds used in the continuous casting of metals are formed or reformed by an explosive forming technique, involving placing a mould preform or used mould over an arbor having an external surface with the profile and finish required of the finished mould, jacketing the assembly with an explosive charge, submerging the jacket assembly in a liquid, detonating the charge from one end and drawing the formed mould off the arbor.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A method of forming a tubular copper mould for the continuous casting of metals, comprising the steps of: forming an arbor having an external surface having the profile and finish required of the finished mould,   fitting a copper sleeve of the same general shape as the finished mould on the arbor,   surrounding the sleeve with a charge of high explosive material providing a detonation path extending longitudinally of the sleeve, fully immersing the sleeve and its surrounding charge in a liquid,   detonating the charge so as to apply a pressure to the sleeve sufficient to cause plastic flow in the material thereof, and withdrawing the arbor from the sleeve.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, including the step of fitting a cover plate and a base plate to the top and bottom ends of the sleeve/arbor assembly. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2, including the step of evacuating air from between the sleeve and the arbor prior to detonation of the charge. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein the explosive charge is applied in strips or cords extending longitudinally of the sleeve. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the explosive charge is at least in part spaced from the sleeve. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein the explosive charge is spaced from the sleeve by the interposition of rubber. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 wherein the explosive charge is spaced from the sleeve by mounting it on a support surrounding the sleeve. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein the explosive used has a detonation velocity substantially greater than the propagation velocity of sound through the liquid in which the sleeve is immersed. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein the explosive used has a detonation velocity of about 6000 meters/second, and the liquid in which the sleeve is immersed is water. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is a used mould requiring reforming.