Method for the continuous production of a bright copper rod by the rolling of stock obtained from a continuous casting apparatus

A method for the continuous production of bright copper rod from stock after discharge from a continuous casting machine, said stock having been exposed to air and being treated prior to entry into a rolling mill, said method including the steps of:

• (a) initiating the breakage and separation of an oxide layer formed on the stock during its passage to the rolling mill by thermal shock and the chemical action of jets of a chemically active liquid at a relatively low pressure of 2-3 bars, the stock being subjected to this action of the low pressure jets for a time from 1 to 5 seconds before entry of the stock into the rolling mill,
• (b) descaling said stock after initiation of the breakage of the oxide layer and before its entry in the rolling mill by projecting on said stock jets of liquid at a relatively high pressure of 200-220 bars thus eliminating the flakes of oxide partially detached from the stock during the preceding step, wherein the duration of said descaling is less than the time required for initiating the breakage and separation of the oxide layer as recited in step (b) to simultaneously effect descaling and to maintain said stock as a temperature enabling hot rolling,
• (c) hot rolling said stock in said rolling mill in the presence of a cooling and lubricating liquid which isolates said stock from the outside atmosphere during its passage through said rolling mill, and,
• (d) cooling the rod obtained from said rolling mill by passing said rod through a duct and causing cooling liquid to flow through said duct in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said rod such that the rod leaves said duct at a temperature below 80.degree. C.