Method of sealing and seal for a starter bar head to be used in a continuous caster

A method of sealing a continuous casting mold, including mold side walls defining a mold cavity and a lower edge, relative to a starter bar head having a front face and side faces, which method comprises the steps of:

• inserting a sealing means including a cover part for at least partially covering said front face of said starter bar head, having an outwardly projecting rim or bead provided peripherally around a lower edge of said sealing means, and for at least partially covering said side faces of said starter bar head, into said mold cavity of said continuous casting mold from below such that said outwardly projecting rim or annular bead abuts said lower edge of said continuous casting mold;
• and
• inserting said starter bar head into said continuous casting mold at least until its front face abuts said cover part of said sealing means.

A method of sealing a continuous casting mold, including mold side walls defining a mold cavity, relative to a starter bar head having a front face and side faces, which method comprises the steps of:

• adhering to said front face of said starter bar head a heat resistant sealing means in the form of an initially plane mat or plate and having an extend area dimensioned to be larger than said front face of said starter bar head so as to provide for a cover part and seal rim regions projecting beyond said front face prior to introducing said starter bar head into said continuous casting mold;
• inserting said starter bar head into said continuous casting mold while deforming said seal rim regions projecting beyond said front face, and;
• locating said cover part, when inserted into said casting mold with said starter bar head, to be free and uncovered relative to said mold cavity of said continuous casting mold prior to introduction of steel into said casting mold.