Bushing in continuous casting dip forming apparatus

An apparatus for continuously forming a cast rod comprising:

• (a) a crucible for holding a molten metal therein and having a bottom wall defining the bottom surface of the crucible;
• (b) a tubular bushing mounted in the bottom wall of said crucible;
• and
• (c) means for passing a core wire into and through said crucible through said bushing, thereby accreting said molten metal on said core wire, so that the accreted molten metal is solidified to form a clad around said core wire to form a cast rod, said bushing having a head portion for engaging with the core wire passing therethrough, said head portion having an internal bore therethrough for passing said core wire therethrough, a peripheral surface defining said internal bore being adapted for sliding contact with said core wire, and said head portion having one end disposed at the bottom surface of the crucible in contact with molten metal therein and said head portion is the only part of said bushing positioned so as to be able to come into contact with the molten metal, further said head portion being made of ceramic material containing a major proportion of at least one selected from the group consisting of zirconia, silicon carbide and silicon nitride, whereby the bushing is not corroded by the molten metal, wherein said bushing comprises a tubular body and a tubular engaging member threadably connected to one end of said tubular body in coaxial relation thereto, said engaging member serving as said head portion and being made of said ceramic material, said tubular body having an internal bore coaxial with the bore of said engaging member and smoothly continuous therewith.