Slab

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A slab is a block made of cast steel , aluminum or copper, the width and length of which is several times its thickness. Slabs are made by casting and possibly rolling and are the starting material for sheet metal and strips.

The original method of slab production, which is now only used for special materials, is casting in a falling or rising cast in standing molds . The cast slabs have a conical shape, as otherwise the mold cannot be removed (“stripped”). These slabs can then be converted into a prismatic shape, the so-called roll slabs, by rolling them in block / slab rolling mills.

Today slabs are mostly made by cutting the continuous strand that is created in the continuous casting process.

Two slabs after burning

The dimensions of a slab are adapted to the dimensions of the desired product. For strips, their width roughly corresponds to the strip width, as the slab is rolled lengthways. The thickness and length depend on the desired weight of the tape. After casting, the dimensions can only be changed lengthways and crossways. In the longitudinal direction a change in length i. d. Usually achieved with a burning machine by burning or cut off with a disc saw.

The length of slabs for heavy plate is limited by the barrel width of the plate rolling mills, since the slab is pierced across and rolled to the required sheet width in the first few passes. Then it is rotated 90 ° and rolled to the desired thickness.

Due to their raw and massive appearance, slabs are also suitable as industrial monuments. In the Ruhr area there are two slabs used as minimalist sculptures , namely the “ Slab for the Ruhr Area ” on the Schurenbachhalde in Essen and “ Rheinorange ” at the confluence of the Ruhr with the Rhine near Duisburg .

  • Steel slabs

  • Transport of a slab, VEB Stahl- und Walzwerk Brandenburg-Havel, 1952

  • The slab for the Ruhr area on the Schurenbachhalde

  • The sculpture Rheinorange in Duisburg

literature

  • Matthias Wichmann: Order-based allocation planning for continuous casting plants in the steel-making industry. Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden 2014, ISBN 978-3-658-04294-3 .
  • Hansgerd fights: reinforcement technology. Basics - Practice - Examples - Economic efficiency, 1st edition, Vieweg + Teubner, Wiesbaden 2010, ISBN 978-3-8348-0767-0 .
  • Paul Gümpel: Stainless steels. Basic knowledge, construction and processing instructions, 4th completely revised edition, expert verlag, Renningen 2008, ISBN 978-3-8169-2689-4 .

Web links