Patent ID: 7448432

Claim:
A continuous belt casting apparatus, comprising a casting cavity, at least one flexible metal belt having an elongated casting surface passing through and at least partially defining the casting cavity, a motor for rotating said at least one metal belt in a longitudinal direction of said casting surface whereby said casting surface passes through said casting cavity in said longitudinal direction, and a molten metal supply device adapted to deliver molten metal continuously to the casting cavity, whereby molten metal supplied to the casting cavity is solidified and removed as a continuous strip ingot from said casting cavity by rotation of said at least one belt, wherein said casting surface is made of said metal and is provided with a plurality of grooves oriented in substantially the same direction, and wherein said plurality of grooves impart a surface roughness (Ra) to the casting surface, said surface roughness (R a ) being in the range of 18 to 80 micro-inches (0.46 to 2.0 micrometers).