Abstract: Nozzle clogging is a prevalent issue in continuous casting. It not only disrupts casting stability but escalates into nozzle blockage in severe case, resulting in decreased production efficiency and slab quality deterioration. The composition and structure of clogging deposits for typical steel grades were summarized. The mechanisms of submerged entry nozzle clogging were reviewed from three aspects: the physical adhesion of inclusions, chemical reactions in steel-refractory system, and the temperature drop resulted from the insufficient preheating.Chemical reactions were emphasized, including decarburization reactions, interactions between molten steel and refractory, and reoxidation reactions. Additionally,the discussion extended to numerical simulation studies in regard to nozzle clogging, mainly including flow field simulations and model of inclusion motion. Finally, the prevention strategies against nozzle clogging were discussed: the cleanliness improvement of steel, the argon blowing technique,the optimization of SEN parameters, and the external electric field and magnetic field treatment.

Key words: continuous casting, nozzle clogging, SEN, clogging mechanism, inclusion