Investment casting: the best way to cast stainless steel

Stainless steel - we see it everywhere now, from our glasses to our smartphones to complex machinery. Stainless steel is everywhere. The reason is its corrosion resistance.

The investment casting process, also known as precision casting or lost-wax casting, involves the forming of a ceramic mold from a wax pattern. Wax patterns are made in the exact shape of the item to be cast. Refractory ceramic is used to coat this pattern. Once the hardened ceramic material has been turned upside down, the wax melts and drains out. Hardened ceramic shells become disposable investment molds. The molten metal is poured into the mold and allowed to cool. The metal casting is then removed from the spent mold. The process of "investing" (enclosing) a pattern with refractory materials is called investment casting. The advantages of investment casting over other molding methods include fine details and excellent surface finishes as-cast. Castings with thin walls and complex internal passageways are also possible. Investment casting does not require a draft, as does sand casting. The process quality can produce net shape or near net shape castings, resulting in significant material, labor, and machining cost savings for the customer. 

Stainless steel has its own classification and grading. Stainless steel contains iron, carbon, chromium, and other materials.

Chromium is the primary element that makes stainless steel corrosion resistant and is contained in no more than 10.5% of each unit. Depending on the availability and percentage of other materials, stainless steel can be classified into different grades.

For casting purposes, we would say that grades 304 and 316 stainless steels are the best. They are both above the 300 level and both contain nickel.

Therefore, make sure the stainless steel foundry you hire has 304 and 316 stainless steel available.

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