What Is Steel Investment Casting?

By Author: Sumangal Casting
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When we use the process of investment casting to produce stainless steel metal parts it’s called steel investment casting.
Stainless steel is the widely produced metal as it offers the biggest advantage in the form of excellent corrosion-resistant metal. Unlike other metals, stainless steel investment castings have a built-in chromium oxide layer. This layer provides exceptional anti-corrosive properties.
The stainless steel investment casting process is similar to the lost-wax casting process.
It’s a process for casting stainless steel with the help of the formation of ceramics around a wax pattern to form a shell.
Stainless Steel Investment Casting Process
This shell is used for casting stainless steel. The stainless steel investment casting process involves the following necessary steps-
A wax model replica of the metal part is prepared by using the negative impression of the final product in a tool.
The mold is the exact negative of the original wax model.
Wax pouring is done in the mold to form its inner lining. This hollow wax copy is then removed from the cast.
The removed hollow wax copy is chased by a hot metal tool to even out any marks left and the wax is dressed to give it a finished look.
Wax copy is then sprued with a tree-like structure that creates a path for the air to escape and for the flow of molten material.
This sprued wax copy is dipped in the slurry of silica and sand-like stucco and then allowed to dry. After repeating this process multiple times, the desired thickness of the shell coating is attained. The inside of the shell coating is kept hollow and it’s layered with fireproof material.
The shell is hardened on a kiln and the wax inside the shell is melted and runs out. After this, the shell is cooled and tested with water for any cracks. If any cracks are present in the shell, then they are filled with a thick paste.
Traces of moisture are removed and the molted metal is poured in the shell.
The shell is blasted away and the rough-cast is obtained. To give it the finished look the spurs are cut off and its surface is chased, smoothened, and polished.
Applications of stainless steel investment casting products
You can buy from us customized stainless steel investment casting parts suitable for various applications in automotive, machinery, food and dairy, medical, plumbing, petrochemical, mining, energy, electrical, submarines, aerospace, general engineering, pumps, and valves.
The stainless steel spare parts of most of the machinery are made by the stainless steel investment casting method in the most cost-effective manner.
Benefits of stainless steel investment casting products
Stainless steel is an iron alloy with many impressive benefits. Not only it displays many impressive qualities, but it’s also durable and can withstand air and moisture.
Stainless steel castings are ideally used in a variety of applications. Some of the benefits of using stainless steel castings are as below –
Corrosion resistance – The stainless steel castings are highly corrosion resistant. Its low-grade alloy might be susceptible to atmospheric disturbances but the high-grade stainless steel alloy is resistant to acidic and alkaline settings.
Temperature resistance – Stainless steel castings are beneficial to use because they can easily withstand high and cold temperatures. This ability to endure extreme temperatures and almost cryogenic levels of cold makes it a valuable investment casting product.
Stainless steel is moldable – Stainless steel can be easily molded in any shape and form. This makes it a preferred choice, as it’s considerably easy to melt and prepare stainless steel castings.
Recyclable material – Today the environment is a priority and much emphasis is put on using the recyclable products. Stainless steel is a highly recyclable product and stainless steel castings manufacturing companies will gladly accept any recyclable stainless steel.
It’s Hygienic – Stainless steel is a hygienic material and can be used for applications in kitchens, food processing units, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. Stainless steel is easy to clean and high levels of hygiene can be easily maintained.
Stainless steel castings offer high aesthetics – This metal casting is aesthetically pleasing and the visual appeal of the steel can be maintained by cleaning it regularly.
Displays high strength-to-weight ratio – Stainless steel is a strong metal and it’s usually stronger than its weight will suggest. This makes it useful to be used in applications where high strength is needed. The good thing is that it is lightweight too.
Conclusion
The commonly used cast stainless steel alloys are used for applications in food-grade steel, housing, gears, plates, handles, brackets, rods, pins, links, etc. The stainless steel alloys come in different grades.