Process and a plant for the production of metal strip

A process for an endless production of hot rolled metal strip comprising an ingot mould including a crystalliser, a liquid core pre-rolling device, placed near an outlet section of the crystalliser, a first pinch roll, a deviation and guide device operable at least during predetermined periods of time, a first descaler including a second pinch roll, a first rolling stand, heating and/or temperature holding means, a second descaler including a third pinch roll, and a rolling finishing mill consisting of at least two second rolling stands, the process comprising the following steps without intermediate interruptions:

• a) casting a thin slab exiting from the crystalliser at a rate comprised in a range between 4 and 16 m/min, having narrow sides with a size in a range between 40 and 55 mm, and a core in which steel is in a liquid state,
• b) carrying out a soft reduction operation of the slab by means of said liquid core pre-rolling device, so as to obtain a completely solidified cast product having a thickness in a range between 15 and 37 mm,
• c) forming a free curve on the cast product comprised in a portion between said first pinch roll and said second pinch roll,
• d) carrying out a first descaling operation on the cast product by means of said first descaler,
• e) carrying out a first rolling operation in the first rolling stand defining reductions up to 40-50% in the thickness of the completely solidified cast product;
• f) heating and/or temperature holding operation by means of said heating and/or temperature holding means,
• g) carrying out a second descaling operation on the cast product by means of said second descaler,
• h) carrying out a plurality of second rolling operations in said rolling finishing mill, for defining a strip having a thickness in the range between 0.8 and 12 mm.