Enhancement of Porosity of the Ceramic Shell in Investment Casting Process Using Needle Coke and Camphor

Abstract

Investment casting process has been a widely used process for centuries. It is known for its ability to produce components of complex shapes with dimensional accuracy and excellent surface finish. Investment casting has been used to make manufacture weapons, jewellery and art castings during the ancient civilization and today it is used to manufacture engineering components. In Investment casting wax patterns are made by wax injection and then coating of the wax patterns are done by ceramic slurry, made with silica flour and binder. After dewaxing and firing molten metal is poured in the shell and solidified casting can be achieved. Investment casting can be cast any ferrous and non ferrous metal which is difficult in die casting. Finishing operations are negligible and very thin sections as.75mm can also be cast which is not possible in sand casting but there are many challenges in Investment casting. It is relatively slow process because preparation of ceramic shell consumes a lot of time, permeability of shell is very low which causes gas permeability. Incorporation of chills is very difficult. Among all these challenges gas porosity is main problem because of poor permeability, entrapment of gases due to complex geometry of the shell, reuse of scrap metal. In the present work porosity of the shell can be increase by addition of mixture of Camphor and needle coke. After firing of the shell camphor and needle coke will be burnt leaving pores for the escape of entrapped gases. Mechanical properties of the both shell will be compared with each other.