LAUSR

This paper presents the results of the metallographic study of the structural condition of metal in the billet after soft reduction. The billet is deformed in the withdrawal and straightening unit of the continuous casting production line when there is an uncrystallized core area in the bullet. The reduction takes place due to the movement of the top driven roll. The metallographic studies reveal the crack initiation characteristics when an external deformative action is applied in the course of incomplete crystallization of continuously cast billet. They provide a well-reasoned approach to selection of techniques minimizing the number of initiation centers.