Industries

Different sectors of the precision investment casting industry place different requirements on the refractories used. Foundries making parts for turbines and medical applications demand much lower, potential contamination levels than in general commercial casting.

Similarly, refined precious metals place higher demands on the quality of their container than is allowable earlier in the production chain. Various types of crucible material are available to meet the preferences in terms of reaction, erosion and thermal shock.

transfer_ladle

CommercialLadle sand casting

Commercial investment castings cover the wide range of complex parts that need to be cast with a high degree of precision and minimal after-work, mainly from carbon steels and alloy steels in an air atmosphere.

Smaller scale units utilising induction coils up to 300mm diameter can use isostatically pressed crucibles, which offer a blemish-free interface and uniform density throughout.

Larger scale melting vessels can be lined with monolithics, although a better solution in terms of performance and installation time comes from vibro-cast crucibles which are available in a wide range of materials. Transfer ladles can then used to transport the molten alloy to the casting station.

Choice of material depends, to a large extent, on the basicity of the slag being used as well as the erosion resistance offered by the crucible and its compatibility with the thermal cycling regime