The paper compares the internal structure of two continuously cast slabs with a section of 300 × 2600 mm from a tube steel of the strength class K60, one of which is molded with a soft reduction, and the other is without external influence. A comparative analysis of the structure of two templates showed that the location of areas with an increased metal pickle ness in the axial part of the templates varies. On the template from a slab cast without reduction, this section is below the geometric center of the work-piece in thickness, at a distance of 49.2% from the underside, that is, the "lower" asymmetry of the slab structure is observed. On the template from the slab cast off with soft reduction, the area with an increased pickle-ness is located above the middle of the work-piece: at a distance of 51.7% of the side of the large radius, an "upper" asymmetry of the slab structure is formed. Consequently, as a result of the external action on the cast work-piece, the location of the axial sponginess, relative to the geometric centre of the slab, is changed by moving from the lower to the upper half of the work-piece. The metal of the axial part of the reduced slab has a denser structure, the degree of development of axial looseness in the metallographic evaluation is reduced by an average of 0.5 points. The work shows the change in the content of chemical elements along the thickness of slabs. In the reduced metal, the maximum value of the degree of zonal inhomogeneity of the most impurities is higher than in the metal without external influence. This is explained by the fact that, as a result of reduction, the zone of location of the axial chemical heterogeneity in the slab becomes smaller in width.
