10.8: Investment Casting
- Page ID
- 31413
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
Investment casting is used to make precision parts with a good surface finish. It is used to make turbine blades from a single crystal Ni-based superalloys. As the moulds are made from ceramic, metals with high melting points can be cast in this way.
- A pattern of the required component is formed out of wax usually through injection moulding into a metal mould. A runner and gate are included within the wax pattern. Pre formed ceramic cores can also be added, so that hollow castings can be made.
- Many wax patterns are then connected together to form a tree, and this is then dipped into a ceramic slurry, which sets through drying. Different layers of ceramic are created around the wax patterns, increasing in coarseness.
- The wax patterns are then melted out, ready for the molten metal to be poured in to create the castings.
- The ceramic mould is broken to reveal the castings, and any ceramic cores added at the start can be chemically etched out to leave a hollow structure.
 |
 |
 |
| Investment wax | Investment mould | Investment blades |
https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/ca...entcasting.mp4
Advantages
- Metals with a high melting temperature can be cast due to ceramic mould
- Complex shapes can be formed by using ceramic liners in the original wax patterns
- Good surface finish can be obtained using fine ceramic material
Disadvantages
- Expensive as mould cannot be reused
- Time consuming (drying times for ceramic range roughly 24 hrs)