Solidification process of metals is basically regarded as heat transfer process. However, as occurence of bubbles, segregations and non-metallic inclusions in ingot become sometimes to defects in quality, sufficient consideration about flow of fluid, mass-transfer and chemical reactions etc. which may affect seriously to these defects, is also necessary.
In recent years, study of these mass-transfer and reaction is being made actively, but there still remain many problems to be solved. Meanwhile, there have been numerous studies that regard solidification process as simple heat trasfering process accompanied by phase change. This kind of analysis is effective enough for design and control of casting operation and this will certainly be useful as the basis of approach even if an analysis under consideration of chemical reaction and mass-transfer should be established in future. Hereunder the author outlines the comparatively simple but useful analytical method of ingot making and continuous casting operation of metals.
