There is provided a continuous casting and rolling process for continuously
producing a deformed fine grain solid metal composition suitable for
semi-solid forming. The process is characterized by high throughput,
continuity, and precise control of the process parameters, such as
solidification rate, rolling temperature and speed and total deformation.
The solidification rate is preferred to be in a range of 10 to 150.degree.
C./s, and the total deformation is controlled to be larger than a Mises
effective strain of 2.3 to obtain a deformed fine grain structure with
enough distortion energy. A method combining the continuous casting and
rolling process of preparing semi-solid raw material with semi-solid
forming of shaped articles is also disclosed.