Investment casting can produce a wide variety of products and prototypes, but it is important to choose the right investment casting material for your application.
Investment casting can produce a wide variety of products and prototypes, but it is important to choose the right investment casting material for your application. The right material can help you get the functionality you need, save on material costs, eliminate unwanted casting defects, and limit the need for secondary machining once the casting is complete.
The final part can display a smooth surface and dimensional accuracy while allowing for lighter weight, thin walls or other beneficial characteristics. Determining which properties can be successfully incorporated into your parts depends heavily on the choice of materials.
There are a variety of alloys to choose from in the material selection process for investment molded sleeves. These include
â–ºCarbon Steel
Carbon steel is a common, low-cost material that comes in a variety of grades, and its classification varies depending on the amount of carbon content. The strength, ductility and properties of carbon steel for industrial applications can be improved by heat treatment. Its ferromagnetic properties allow carbon steel to be used in electric motors and appliances. It is safe, durable, and has a high degree of structural integrity, making it one of the most commonly used alloys in the world.
â–ºStainless Steel
Compared to many other materials, stainless steel offers superior durability. The potential of this material has led to an increase in its use by designers and engineers in investment casting. Applications for stainless steel include gearbox components in automotive applications, various gears, camp components and golf club heads.
â–ºLow-Alloy Steels
Low alloy steels are among the most commonly used steels in the mechanical world because of their economy and beneficial mechanical properties. Specialized heat treatment processes make it possible to design parts with different characteristics in different areas of the same workpiece. For example, different heat treatments can be used to make one surface tough and impact resistant, while another becomes wear resistant.
â–ºAluminum alloys
Aluminum is the most used material in investment casting. Industries that use it most often include aerospace, avionics, electronics and military.
Due to the increased strength of the material and the availability of quality castings made from aluminum-silicon-magnesium alloys, castings are now available for demanding applications such as airframe components.
â–ºSuper Alloys
Nickel and cobalt based super alloys have universal use in the aerospace, energy, medical, chemical and marine industries. Nickel-based alloys are stronger at high temperatures, and cobalt-based alloys offer better corrosion, oxidation and wear resistance than nickel-based alloys. Super alloys are increasingly replacing sheet metal because they offer high stiffness and excellent serviceability characteristics while remaining a cost-effective option.
â–ºCopper Alloys
Copper-based alloys are corrosion resistant and have low wear rates. They are often used in applications such as marine or pump propellers, electrical components and piping components. A versatile material, there are more than 400 different alloys with a wide range of properties.
Many part types can be investment cast from copper-based alloys. The more common types of copper-based alloys include bronze and brass. The strongest copper alloy is beryllium copper alloy, which has properties similar to high-strength alloy steel, but has higher corrosion resistance over longer periods of time.
â–ºCast Iron
Cast iron parts, which typically include gray cast iron and ductile iron, are known for their high precision and affordable price. Ductile iron has high strength, heat resistance and toughness, but it is a more complex production process than other steels. This results in higher production costs than cast steel.
Investment casting materials have different properties and uses, which is why it is important to choose the right casting material for your application. The right material selection will ultimately help you achieve the desired functionality of your design while minimizing cost and material waste.
For more information on material selection, or to learn about our investment casting services, please contact us or submit an information request.