Fused Quartz Submerged Entry Nozzle for Steel Continuous Casting – Custom Sizes Available

Fused Quartz Submerged Entry Nozzle Applications

• Steel Continuous Casting (Tundish → Mold Flow Control)

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. High thermal stability – Withstands molten steel temperatures above 1500 °C and maintains outlet geometry under repeated heat cycles.
  2. Good anti-erosion behavior – Resists molten steel scouring and turbulence at the nozzle outlet, extending campaign life.
  3. Low secondary oxidation – High-purity fused quartz reduces oxygen pickup and helps maintain cleaner steel quality during casting.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A billet caster operating at 1550–1570 °C experienced early nozzle wear after 2–3 heats, causing inconsistent flow and inclusion streaks. After switching to a fused quartz tundish nozzle with improved thermal shock resistance and erosion control, the nozzle life increased to 5–6 heats, and the rate of surface defects on billets decreased from approximately 2.8% to around 1.1%. Flow stability during casting also improved, reducing mold level fluctuation by about 20–25%.

• Non-Ferrous Metal Casting (Aluminum, Copper and Alloy Casting Lines)

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Excellent corrosion resistance – Fused quartz shows low reaction with molten Al, Cu and alloy melts, reducing contamination and clogging.
  2. Stable outlet bore – Low thermal expansion keeps the bore roundness stable, supporting uniform metal flow into molds or rollers.
  3. Extended service time – Good resistance to thermal cycling minimizes cracking during multiple start–stop casting sequences.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A continuous strip casting line for aluminum alloys reported melt leakage and bore deformation at 780–850 °C due to nozzle reaction with alloy constituents. Introducing fused quartz nozzles reduced chemical interaction, extending nozzle life from roughly 10 hours to 22–24 hours per casting run. Flow uniformity improved, lowering edge waviness defects by approximately 15%.

• Glass Melting, Refining and Precision Forming

  ✅Key Advantages

  1. Material compatibility – Fused quartz provides thermal expansion characteristics close to many glass melts, reducing stress and microcracking at the interface.
  2. Smooth, clean melt path – High purity limits alkali or metallic contamination, supporting optical-grade and specialty glass quality.
  3. Controlled melt delivery – Precision-machined outlet ensures stable jet behavior for forming, drawing, dripping or refining gas bubbling.

  ✅ Problem Solved

  A specialty glass line producing low-alkali glass sheets encountered surface streaks caused by inconsistent melt outlet diameter variations during long production campaigns. Replacing the refractory nozzle with a fused quartz casting nozzle improved dimensional stability at 1150–1200 °C, reducing streak defects from 1.9% to under 0.7% and achieving more stable melt flow for the full 48-hour campaign.

Usage Guide — Fused Quartz Ceramic Submerged Entry Nozzle

• Installation

  1. Inspect the SEN for cracks or chips before installation.
  2. Ensure tundish seating surfaces are clean and free from debris.
  3. Align the nozzle vertically to avoid lateral stress at the mold interface.
  4. Uniformly tighten any clamps or retaining elements around the upper joint.

• Operation

  1. Preheat the SEN gradually to minimize thermal shock.
  2. Avoid rapid full-flow exposure during first contact with molten steel.
  3. Monitor flow stability, mold level and inlet pressure regularly.
  4. Replace the SEN at preset casting hours to prevent erosion-related issues.

• Storage

  1. Store vertically in padded racks or trays.
  2. Avoid humidity, mechanical impact or contact with hard materials.
  3. Keep in original packaging until installation.

• Cleaning & Maintenance

  1. Use dry compressed air to remove dust or loose debris.
  2. Do not mechanically scrape inner walls to avoid micro-cracks.
  3. Inspect outlet wear and transition zones during downtime.

• Common Misuse & Fixes

  1. Thermal Shock Cracking
  Cause: immediate exposure to molten steel.
  Fix: apply controlled preheat ramps (–100 °C/min or slower).

  2. Outlet Erosion Accelerated by Misalignment
  Cause: nozzle tilting in mould entry.
  Fix: re-level mounting surfaces and recalibrate clamps.

  3. Partial Clogging from Inclusion Buildup
  Cause: unstable turbulence at the inlet region.
  Fix: revise bore geometry or increase tundish filtration performance.

FAQ — Fused Quartz Ceramic Submerged Entry Nozzle

1. Q: What temperature range can a fused quartz SEN withstand?
   A: A fused quartz submerged entry nozzle typically withstands 1500–1600 °C, depending on casting steel grade, heat duration and inlet flow velocity. Fused quartz maintains bore geometry and structural integrity at standard casting temperatures used for carbon steels, alloy steels and stainless steels.
2. Q: How does fused quartz submerged entry nozzle with alumina or zirconia nozzles?
   A: Fused quartz: low contamination, good thermal shock resistance, reduced risk of steel re-oxidation.
   Alumina: higher mechanical strength but more reactive with molten steel.
   Zirconia: good erosion resistance but much heavier and less tolerant to thermal shock.
   Each material fits different casting speeds, steel grades and campaign lengths.
3. Q: Can the fused quartz SEN be customized for different casting speeds or mold widths?
   A: Yes. The bore profile, outlet diameter, outlet angle, flow-stabilizing sections and SEN length can be customized according to steel flow rate, mold dimensions, strand width and target jet penetration depth. These adjustments help achieve a stable, well-balanced mold flow pattern.
4. Q: What factors influence the service life of a fused quartz submerged entry nozzle?
   A: Service life is affected by:molten steel temperature (°C)
   casting speed (m/min)
   turbulence intensity at the inlet region
   steel grade (carbon steel vs stainless steel)
   scouring velocity
   tundish cleanliness
   internal bore geometry
   Typical fused quartz SEN life ranges from 5–6 heats for billets/blooms and varies based on casting conditions.
5. Q: What information is required to design or quote a custom fused quartz submerged entry nozzle?
   A: A complete inquiry should include:tundish geometry and mounting style
   required SEN length
   inlet/outlet diameters
   bore profile preference (straight, tapered, multi-stage)
   casting speed and steel grade
   expected campaign length (heats)
   mould width and jet penetration requirements

Customer Reviews About Fused Quartz Submerged Entry Nozzle

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  We adopted fused quartz submerged entry nozzles from ADCERAX for a billet line. The stable bore profile improved mold level stability and lowered our defect rate during long campaigns.
  -- Andrew M. – Casting Engineer, SteelFlow Technologies Ltd.
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  Custom SEN dimensions were important for our mold setup. ADCERAX delivered consistent tolerances and reasonable pricing for both sample and batch orders.
  -- Carlos R. – Procurement Manager, Global Metals Casting SA
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  Fused quartz SENs helped us control flow in stainless steel grades. We observed fewer jet deviation issues and better meniscus behavior during extended casting sequences.
  -- Shunpei T. – Process Engineer, Nippon Specialty Alloys Co.
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  Switching to quartz SENs doubled our nozzle life in copper casting. Less erosion and stable flow made casting operations smoother.
  -- Martin L. – Maintenance Supervisor, EuroCast Metallurgy GmbH