Method for equalization of the heat transfer of a cast product during the solidification thereof on a metal conveyor belt of a horizontal strip casting installation

A method of casting near-net-shape, rectangular strands from metal and a subsequent processing thereof into metal strips according to a DSC-method (direct strip casting) in a horizontal strip casting installation (1), comprising the steps of:

• providing a horizontally circulating metal conveyor belt (7) having a cooled bottom and a deflection roller (8) and on which a liquid cast product (4) solidifies to a pre-strip (5) during displacement thereof therealong, a melt feeder (3′) for casting a metal melt onto the conveyor belt (7), roller means (14) for feeding the solidified pre-strip under mechanical tension to a driver (16) after the solidified pre-strip leaves the conveyor belt (7);
• a pressure device (11, 12, 13) arranged above the cast product (4) in a region of the deflection roller (8) of the metal conveyor belt (7) which is located downstream in a casting direction, for applying an adjustable pressure from above to the cast product (4) solidifying into the pre-strip (5);
• pouring metal melt with a melt feeder (3′) on the conveyor belt (7);
• displacing the liquid cast product (4) along the conveyor belt (4), whereby the cast product (4) is solidified in a pre-strip;
• providing a pressure device (11, 12, 13) arranged in a region of an end of the metal conveyor belt (7) located downstream, in a casting direction of the strand, for applying pressure to the cast product (4) solidifying into the pre-strip (5) from above;
• providing a cooling device (17, 19, 19′) immediately behind the downstream, in the casting direction, end of the metal conveyor belt (7) in a region between the downstream end of the conveyor belt (7) and a first roller of the feeding roller means (14) for cooling a bottom of the pre-strip (5) as it leaves the conveyor belt (7) in order to compensate a suddenly reduced cooling of the bottom of the pre-strip (5) upon the pre-strip leaving the conveyor belt, whereby a backward arching of strip edges (6) is prevented;
• and
• feeding the solidified pre-strip under mechanical tension to the driver (16).