In the continuous steel casting production, the selection of copper mould tubes and copper plates for application lies at the core in the precise matching of material properties, structural characteristics, and production requirements. The application scenarios of the two are significantly different, with the core analysis as follows.

I. Copper Mould Tubes: Preferred for Small-Section, High-Speed Continuous Casting

With excellent thermal conductivity and high-precision tubular structure, copper mould tubes are the mainstream choice for continuous casting of small-section billets, suitable for scenarios requiring high production efficiency and billet surface quality.

The applicable billets mainly include small square billets (side length ≤ 150mm), round billets (diameter ≤ 200mm), and small rectangular billets, corresponding to the production of construction rebar, wire rod raw materials, seamless steel pipe blanks, etc. It is matched with small square billet and round billet continuous casters, especially suitable for high-speed continuous casting (casting speed ≥ 3m/min). It can quickly conduct heat from molten steel to achieve rapid solidification, and there are no splicing seams on the inner wall, which can reduce surface defects such as cracks and scratches of billets.

In addition, copper mould tubes are convenient to replace, with a single replacement time ≤ 30 minutes, little impact on shutdown, and low maintenance costs, making them particularly suitable for the efficient production of conventional steel grades such as plain carbon steel and low-alloy steel.

II. Copper Mould Plates: Guarantee for Large-Section, Complex Steel Grades

With high strength, high wear resistance and flexible splicing structure, copper mould plates focus on continuous casting of large-section billets and complex steel grades, suitable for scenarios requiring long equipment service life and stable billet quality.

The applicable billets include slab billets (thickness ≥ 150mm, width ≥ 800mm), large square billets (side length ≥ 200mm), shaped billets, etc., corresponding to the production of wide and thick plates, large section steel, forgings and other raw materials. It is matched with slab billet and large square billet continuous casters, suitable for medium and low speed continuous casting (casting speed ≤ 2m/min), and can withstand the mechanical stress and thermal shock during the solidification of large-section billets to avoid equipment deformation and failure.

Its advantages lie in wear resistance and durability (service life is much longer than that of copper mould tubes). It can adapt to the needs of different cross-sections by adjusting the splicing structure and cooling design. It is especially suitable for high-alloy steel, stainless steel and other steel grades with high requirements for wear resistance and anti-adhesion, and can effectively reduce the billet defect rate.

III. Core Selection Logic

In simple terms, for small-section, high-speed continuous casting and conventional steel grade production that pursues efficiency and low cost, choose copper mould tubes; for large-section, medium and low speed continuous casting and complex steel grade production that pursues service life and quality stability, choose copper plates. In practical selection, it is only necessary to match the billet cross-section, continuous casting speed and steel grade characteristics to achieve stable and efficient production.