This volume contains a comprehensive treatment of continuous casting, including all aspects of billet, bloom, beam blank and thin and thick slab c asting. Emphasis is placed on fundamental metallurgical issues that govern proper machine design and operation. Significant attention is also given to operational practices that can lead to defect formations; the interrelationship between steelmaking, casting and rolling, grade and alloying element effects on casting; the importance of maintenance; design of various casters; and future casting processes.