Laboratory study of heat transfer through thin layers of casting slag: minimization of the slag/probe contact resistance

The heat flux densities through thin layers of casting slag have been measured with a soft cooling heat flux probe which made smooth probe/slag interfaces. Thus the contact resistance was avoided. The evaluated effective thermal conductivities were applied, together with the data on the contact resistance, to compute the “system conductivities” existing in the continuous casting “system” water cooled copper/slag/strand. The refractive index and absorption spectrum were measured and used to deduce functions for the radiative and conductive (phonon) conductivities. Although precise values could not be obtained, due to the many assumptions involved, the data indicate that the conductive conductivity does not change drastically at high temperatures and on melting.