Patent · US Expired

Infiltration method for producing shells useful for investment casting

US5927379A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
10References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 1996
Grant dateJul 27, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 26, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/811
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Methods and compositions for forming shells for investment casting and methods for casting metal articles using the shells are described. One embodiment of the method comprises serially immersing a pattern in at least one, and perhaps several different slurries, each of which slurries comprises refractory material and from about 0 to about 30 volume percent inorganic binder. This forms a facecoat and plural refractory backup layers about the pattern, the facecoat and at least one backup layer defining a shell. The facecoat and/or the shell is then infiltrated with a binder. Infiltrating the shell with a binder is a key feature of the present invention. Infiltration refers to any process whereby a binder can be introduced into the facecoat and/or the subsequent layers built up about the shell. One method of infiltrating the facecoat and/or layers with binder comprises immersing the pattern having refractory material into a slurry comprising a binder, including inorganic binders, organic binders, and mixtures thereof. The pattern then is separated from the shell, forming a shell having an internal void in the shape of an article to be cast. Molten metal is then introduced into the vo…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.