This article presents an interdisciplinary approach to the reconstruction of a copper-alloy artefact using reverse engineering techniques combined with modern digital and manufacturing technologies. The research was motivated by the need to better understand historical casting techniques while preserving the integrity of cultural heritage objects through non-destructive methods. The study integrates 3D scanning, CAD-based modelling, numerical simulations, investment casting, and metal additive manufacturing. The geometry of the artefact was captured using high-resolution 3D scanning, enabling the development of two CAD models: one representing the preserved state of the object and a second reconstructed model with the missing fragment digitally restored. Both models were used for numerical simulations of mould filling, solidification, cooling, and porosity formation performed in MAGMASOFT® 6.1, allowing the assessment of technological feasibility and defect formation. Based on the simulation results, physical replicas were produced using investment casting and selective laser melting. The obtained numerical and experimental results were compared in terms of geometry reproduction, surface characteristics, and predicted versus observed casting behaviour. The study demonstrates that the combination of digital reconstruction, simulation tools, and experimental manufacturing provides a reliable framework for analysing historical metallurgical processes. The proposed methodology supports both scientific interpretation and the practical reconstruction of heritage objects and can be applied to a wide range of archaeometallurgical studies.
The investment casting (IC) process is a technique used to produce high-precision metal castings, including complex shapes and metals that are difficult to cast using conventional methods. Typically, the process begins by creating a wax pattern from a mold in the initial steps. The molds used for IC are fabricated using conventional machining techniques. However, this mold preparation approach can be challenging when it comes to fabricating complex shapes and thin walls, particularly in small-batch production scenarios. To overcome this limitation, this study explores a flexible design approach that utilizes three-dimensional printing (3DP) to fabricate IC molds. The key advantage of this approach is the combination of the flexible design mold and the surface roughness (SR) of the casted parts. The experimental results demonstrate that the SR of the casted products fabricated using the 3DP mold is comparable to that obtained from the conventional mold-making process. These findings provide an alternative strategy for preparing IC molds with high flexibility, which can accommodate various scales of production. The 3DP-based approach offers a more adaptable solution compared to conventional machining methods, particularly for complex geometries and small-batch manufacturing.
For improving heat transfer in the thermal energy storage system (TES), cast aluminum cellular structures were designed, optimized, and produced by investment casting. The pattern was 3D printed from polylactide (PLA) polymer and then subjected to molding and heat treatment. Selected casting parameters, i.e. temperature of the mold and poured metal, as well as low pressure (vacuum), allowed to production of a complex, thin-walled casting. To evaluate the effectiveness of the structures (enhancers), a lab-scale heat accumulator was constructed and filled with phase change material (PCM) composed of KNO3 and NaNO3 salts. Thermal cycling, including charging and discharging of the accumulator, was analyzed and compared between systems with pure PCM bed and the one equipped with the produced enhancer. To protect aluminum casting against corrosion with molten salts, nickel plating was applied. Process parameters, such as plating process time and nickel subcoating application time, were determined. Microscopic observations confirmed high-quality, continuous coating on aluminum casting surfaces with characteristic microgrooves remaining after the printed pattern.
Today, the emphasis is on rapid development and research of new technologies in all technical fields. In most cases, research and development involves practical experiments, which can be very costly to carry out. Some experiments may not even work and can waste time and money, which are crucial for fast and high-quality research. In order to avoid these problems before conducting a practical experiment, we can use numerical simulation software, which is very reliable when the correct input parameters are given. Numerical simulation of the process can reveal how the practical experiment may turn out even before its implementation. The paper deals with the use of numerical simulations in investigating the problem of fluidity in a new low pressure investment casting (LPIC) technology, where the output is the agreement between the simulation and the practical experiment. The practical experiment consisted in the design of a fluidity test for stainless steels cast using the low pressure investment casting technology and the simulation carried out in simulation software. The new LPIC technology makes it possible to achieve a wall thickness of between 1 and 0.5 mm for steel castings, which significantly increases the potential of steel castings made by LPIC technology.
Currently, great emphasis is placed on the production of castings with complex shapes. The hybrid investment casting technology using 3D printed models offers new possibilities in the production of such complex and thin-walled castings. The motivation for this paper was to find a solution to the problem with ceramic shells cracking during the 3D model firing stage. The main factors affecting the shell cracking are the thermal expansion of the model and the shell material, and the newly considered pressure of the gas closed in the ceramic shell cavity. First, thermal analyses were performed of a commercial material used for 3D printing - Polymaker PolyCast™. The characteristics yielded by the measurements helped establish the glass transition temperature, the autoignition temperature and the behaviour of the gas produced by the model burning. Suitable experimental models in the shape of tetrahedrons were designed and used for a number of experiments. The tests confirmed that cracks only occur during shock firing in models printed by the FFF technology with 0% of infill. A solution suggested for further experiments is purposeful venting of the models. Practical testing of the optimization has also been performed. The last step was measurement of the heat transfer through the ceramic shell after being placed in the annealing furnace. There were temperature evolution profiles in the system model-ceramic shell obtained.
The composition and pouring temperature are important parameters in metal casting. Many cast product failures are caused by ignorance of the influence of both. This research aims to determine the effect of adding tin composition and pouring temperature on fluidity, microstructure and mechanical properties including tensile strength and hardness of tin bronze (Cu-Sn). The Cu-Sn is widely used as employed in the research is Cu (20, 22 and 24) wt.% Sn alloy using the investment casting method. Variations in pouring temperature treatment TS1 = 1000°C and TS2 = 1100°C. The mold for the fluidity test is made with a wax pattern then coated in clay. The mold dimensions are 400 mm long with mold cavity variations of 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 mm. Several parameters: increasing the pouring temperature, adding tin composition, decreasing the temperature gradient between the molten metal and the mold walls result in a decrease in the solidification rate which can increase fluidity. The α + δ phase transition to β and γ intermetallic phases decreases fluidity at >22wt.%Sn. The columnar dendrite microstructure increases with the addition of tin composition and pouring temperature. The mechanical properties of tensile strength decrease, hardness increases and the alloy becomes more brittle with increasing tin composition.
W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań proszku korundowego oraz spoiwa formierskiego zawierającego nanometryczny Al2 O3 (Evonik) o średnicy 16 nm. W ramach prac badano m.in. morfologię SEM proszku, TEM spoiwa, skład chemiczny, wielkość cząstek oraz potencjał zeta. Dodatkowo spoiwo scharakteryzowano gęstością, pH, zawartością fazy stałej, parametrami sterologicznymi oraz lepkością względną. Stwierdzono, że zastosowanie obu tych surowców jako nowego systemu formierskiego jest perspektywiczne z uwagi na zgodność chemiczną oraz właściwości.
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The paper presents the results of investigation on corundum powder and molding binder containing nanometric Al2O3 (Evonik) with the diameter of 16 nm. Powder SEM morphology, binder TEM morphology, chemical composition, particle size and zeta potential have been studied. The binder was also characterized by density, pH, solid phase content, sterological parameters and relative viscosity. It was found that the use of both of these raw materials as a new molding system is prospective due to chemical compatibility and their properties.
The process of investment casting of AZ91 magnesium alloy open-cell porosity foams was analysed. A basic investment casting technique was modified to enable the manufacturing of magnesium foams of chosen porosities in a safe and effective way. Various casting parameters (mould temperature, metal pouring temperature, pressure during metal pouring and solidifying) were calculated and analysed to assure complete mould filling and to minimize surface reactions with mould material. The foams manufactured with this method have been tested for their mechanical strength and collapsing behaviour. The AZ91 foams acquired in this research turned out to have very high open porosity level (>80%) and performed with Young’s modulus of ~30 MPa on average. Their collapsing mechanism has turned out to be mostly brittle. Magnesium alloy foams of such morphology may find their application in fields requiring lightweight materials of high strength to density ratio or of high energy absorption properties, as well as in biomedical implants due to magnesium’s high biocompatibility and its mechanical properties similar to bone tissue.
W artykule przedstawiono zagadnienia związane z problemem stosowania wadliwych spoiw powodujących powstawanie wad ceramicznych form odlewniczych w procesie odlewania precyzyjnego. Opracowano i opisano metodykę oceny przegrzanych i przemrożonych spoiw. Metodyka analityczna polegała na badaniach spoiw formierskich, które zostały poddane ocenie wizualnej, pomiarom mętności, pomiarom lepkości i pH oraz badaniom napięcia powierzchniowego. Przedstawiono wyniki dla dwóch rodzajów spoiw: zawierających koloidalny SiO2 (LUDOX AM) oraz nanometryczny Al2O3 (EVONIK W640 ZX).
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The paper presents topics related to the problem of using defective binders in investment casting process. A methodology for the assessment of overheated and frozen binders was developed and described. The analytical methodology consists in testing the binders through: visual evaluation, turbidity measurements, viscosity measurements, pH and testing the surface tension of binders containing colloidal SiO2 (LUDOX AM) and nanometric Al2O3 (EVONIK W640 ZX).
A method for the open-cell aluminum foams manufacturing by investment casting was presented. Among mechanical properties, compressive behaviour was investigated. The thermal performance of the fabricated foams used as heat transfer enhancers in the heat accumulator based on phase change material (paraffin) was studied during charging-discharging working cycles in terms of temperature distribution. The influence of the foam on the thermal conductivity of the system was examined, revealing a two-fold increase in comparison to the pure PCM. The proposed castings were subjected to cyclic stresses during PCM’s subsequent contraction and expansion, while any casting defects present in the structure may deteriorate their durability. The manufactured heat transfers enhancers were found suitable for up to several dozen of cycles. The applied solution helped to facilitate the heat transfer resulting in more homogeneous temperature distribution and reduction of the charging period’s duration.
In the manufacturing sector, the processing of magnesium alloys through the liquid casting route is one of the promising methods to manufacture automotive and aircraft components, for their excellent mechanical properties at the lower weight. Investment casting process has the great cabaility to produce near net shape complex castings for automotive and aircraft applications. The distinct and attractive engineering properties of magnesium alloys have shown to be promising in terms of its potential to replace materials such as cast iron, steel, and aluminum In this regard, the efforts to develop processing technology for these alloys for their wide range of applications in industries have been reported by the scientific and engineering community. For successful production of magnesium alloy castings, it requires specialized foundry techniques because of the particular chemical and physical properties of magnesium; especially the reactive and oxidative nature of these alloys. The industry is young enough, to tap the potential.
Thermal energy encounters a huge demand in the world, part of which can be met by renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, and storage of thermal energy surplus from industrial processes. For this purpose, thermal energy storage (TES) units, in which heat is stored, are developed. The energy is accumulated by phase change materials (PCM) characterized by high phase transition enthalpy. PCMs have poor thermal conductivity; therefore, to take full advantage of their capabilities and to accelerate the charging and discharging cycle, metallic structures are used. These structures are manufactured using investment casting technology. Creating models with additive methods, such as 3D printing, allows obtaining complex shapes with high accuracy, such as thin-walled castings. At a large scale, the method may not be cost-effective. In this paper, the heat exchanger models were made from PLA and the castings - from AC44200 aluminum alloy. Investment casting requires the proper selection of parameters, such as the right material for the model, the selection of the firing temperature, the adjustment of the temperature of the molten metal, the temperature of the mold, and the pressure in it. Misaligning any of the parameters can lead to imperfections on the finished casting. Based on the model roughness study, it was found that minor roughness and higher accuracy are presented by the lower parts of the casting, while weaker performance is observed for the upper parts. Metal castings in a salt PCM environment may be subjected to corrosion. Therefore, the authors proposed to produce protective coatings on aluminum castings by the PEO method - plasma electrolytic oxidation. Porous ceramic thin films consisting mainly of alumina were obtained. The next tests will be aimed to confirm whether this layer will not negatively influence the thermal conductivity of the thermal energy storage.
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The thermodynamical simulation predicts the phase transformation of M7C3 to M23C6, proven previously via electron microscopy. Some other reported experimental works suggest that this can also take place also during heating [22, 45, 46]. Considering this, the melting process of the primary M7C3 carbide can be that the M7C3 first undergoes a phase transformation into M23C6 and then melts, instead of directly melting. A similar conclusion was given by Gui et al. [47-49] based on experiments on the Co-based superalloy strengthened (in as-cast condition) by M7C3 and MC carbides. It was suggested that the creation of the liquid phase follows the reaction M23C6 + α→L. The reaction was initiated on the M23C6/α interface and proceeded towards the center in the range of 1280 - 1348 ˚C. Before melting, the MC eutectic carbide degenerated, and its morphology changes to a well-rounded shape. Exceeding 1400 ˚C leads to the melting reaction of MC + α→L in the X-40 Co-based superalloy.
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The X-40 Co-based superalloy is often used in the aerospace industry directly in as-cast condition and its analysis in this state is essential to understand further possible phase transformations during service. With this in mind, this work focuses on characterizing the material’s as-cast microstructure, phase transformation temperatures and oxidation resistance. Observations and analyses were performed via thermodynamic simulations, X-ray diffraction (XRD), light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning-transmission electron microscopy (STEM-HAADF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), dilatometry (DIL) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The microstructure of the dendritic regions consisted of the α matrix, with MC, M7C3 and M23C6 carbides being present in the interdendritic spaces. Based on DIL, it was found that precipitation of the Cr-rich carbides from the saturated α matrix may occur in the range 650-750 °C. DSC determined the incipient melting and liquidus temperatures of the X-40 superalloy during heating to be 1405 °C and 1421 °C, respectively. Based on oxidation resistance tests carried out at 860 °C, it was found that the mass gain after 500 h exposure was 3 times higher in the air than in steam.
The article is focused on the synergic effect of constant content of Zr and higher content of Ti on mechanical properties Al-Si alloy. The Ti additions were in proportions of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 wt.% Ti. The casting process was carried out in ceramic molds, created for the investment casting technology. Half of the experimental samples were processed by precipitation curing T6. The measured results were compared with primary alloy AlSi7Mg0.3 and experimental alloy AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5Zr0.15. In variant with addition 0.1 wt. %, the tensile strength Rm increased by 1,5% but the elongation AM decreased to 40%. Variants with 0.2 and 0.3 wt. % addition of Ti achieved similar Rm but approximately 40% decrease in AM. However, it is interesting that yield strength Rp0.2 increased for all variants by approximately 14 to 20%. The results point out the possibility of developing a more sophisticated alloy for automotive industry.
This paper presents results of a study of the effect of inoculation of yttrium on the microstructure of AZ91 alloy. The concentration of the inoculant was increased in samples in the range from 0.1% up to 0.6%. The influence of Y on the thermal effects resulting from the phase transformations occurring during the crystallisation at different inoculant concentrations were examined with the use of Derivative and Thermal Analysis (DTA). The microstructures of the samples were examined with the use of an optical microscope; and an image analysis with a statistical analysis were also carried out. Those analyses aimed at examining oh the effect of inoculation of the Y on the differences between the grain diameters of phase αMg and eutectic αMg+γ(Mg17Al12) in the prepared examined material as well as the average size of each type of grain by way of measuring their perimeters.
This paper presents an overview of a research on six practical cases that were solved in a precise casting company where parts are cast by the mean of the low-wax casting method (investment casting) in order to decrease poor quality production. The steel cast parts production technology by the lost-wax method requires the detailed work procedures observation. On the base of statistical processing data of given types of casting products, it was possible to assess the significance of each particular checking events by using the statistical hypothesis testing. The attention was focused on wax and ceramic departments. The data in technological flow were compared before and after the implementation of the change and statistical confirmative influences were assessed. The target consisted in setting such control manners in order to get the right conditions for decreasing poor quality parts. It was evidenced that the cast part defect cause correct identification and interpretation is important.
For the manufacture of near net shape complex titanium products, it is necessary to use investment casting process. Melting of titanium is promising to carry out by electron beam casting technology, which allows for specific processing of the melt, and accordingly control the structure and properties of castings of titanium alloys. However, the casting of titanium in ceramic molds is usually accompanied by a reaction of the melt with the mold. In this regard, the aim of the work was to study the interaction of titanium melt with ceramics of shell molds in the conditions of electron beam casting technology. Ceramic molds were made by using the following refractory materials – fused corundum Al2O3, zircon ZrSiO4 and yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide ZrO2, and ethyl silicate as a binder. Melting and casting of CP titanium was performed in an electron beam foundry. Samples were made from the obtained castings and electron microscopic metallography was performed. The presence and morphology of the altered structure, on the sample surface, were evaluated and the degree and nature of their interaction were determined. It was found that the molds with face layers of zirconium oxide (Z1) and zircon (ZS1) and backup layers of corundum showed the smallest interaction with the titanium melt. Corundum interacts with titanium to form a non-continuous reaction layer with thickness of 400-500 μm. For shell molds with face and backup layers of zircon on the surface of the castings, a reaction layer with thickness of 500-600 μm is formed. In addition, zirconium-silicon eutectic was detected in these layers.
The article presents results of research on the influence of the mould material on selected mechanical properties of wax models used for production of casting in investment casting method. The main goal was to compare the strength and hardness of samples produced in various media in order to analyse the applicability of the 3D printing technology as an alternative method of producing wax injection dies. To make the wax injection dies, it was decided to use a milled steel and 3D printed inserts made using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) / FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) technology from HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). A semi-automatic vertical reciprocating injection moulding machine was used to produce the wax samples made of Freeman Flakes Wax Mixture – Super Pink. During injection moulding process, the mould temperature was measured each time before and after moulding with a pyrometer. Then, the samples were subjected to a static tensile test and a hardness test. It was shown that the mould material influences the strength properties of the wax samples, but not their final hardness.
The article focused primarily on comparing the achieved mechanical results for AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5Zr and AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5Zr0.15Ti experimental alloys. Experimental variants with the addition of Zr ≥ 0.05 wt. % demonstrated the ability of Zr to precipitate in the form of Al3Zr or AlSiZr intermetallic phases. Zr precipitated in the form of long smooth needles with split ends. When evaluating the thermal analyses, the repeated peak was observed already with the initial addition of Zr in the range of approximately 630°C. It was interesting to observe the increased interaction with other intermetallic phases. EDX analysis confirmed that the individual phases are based on Cu, Mg but also Fe. Similar phenomena were observed in experimental alloys with a constant addition of Zr and a gradual increase in Ti by 0.1 wt. %. A significant change occurred in the amount of precipitated Zr phases. A more significant increase in mechanical properties after heat treatment of AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5Zr experimental alloys was observed mainly above the Zr content ≥ 0.15 wt. % Zr. The improvement of yield and tensile strength over the AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5 reference alloy after heat treatment was minimal, not exceeding 1 %. A more significant improvement after heat treatment occurred in modulus of elongation with an increase by 6 %, and in hardness with an increase by 7 %. The most significant drop occurred in ductility where a decrease by 31 % was observed compared to the reference alloy. AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5Zr0.15Ti experimental alloys, characterized by varying Ti content, achieved a more significant improvement. The improvement in tensile strength over the AlSi7Mg0.3Cu0.5 reference alloy after heat treatment was minimal, not exceeding 1 %. A more significant improvement after heat treatment occurred in modulus of elongation with an increase by 12 %, in hardness with an increase by 12 % and the most significant improvement occurred in yield strength with a value of 18 %. The most significant decrease also occurred in ductility where, compared to the reference alloy, the ductility drop was by up to 67 %.
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