Stainless steel casting is the special steel casting type used primarily because of their corrosion resistance. All stainless steels casting grades contain a minimum percentage of 10.5% chromium. Chromium is always the deciding factor, although other elements, particularly nickel and molybdenum, are added to improve corrosion resistance of stainless steel casting components. The success of the material is based on the fact that it has one unique advantage. The chromium in the stainless steel has a great affinity for oxygen, and will form a film of chromium oxide on the surface of the component.stainless steel casting is the most cost efficient solution for metal components used in food machinery, display, oilfield industry, and other applications. Although producing a casting component in stainless steel will often be more expensive than other steel castings due to the higher cost of stainless steel and expertise required during stainless steel casting process. But Stainless steel castings can give the advantages of longer service life and less maintenance costs for equipment.
Advantages of Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts
Hygiene
It is an ingredient that is easy to clean after use. There is minimal risk of bacteria, grime, or dirt forming as no cracks or holes in the stainless steel case. This makes it easier to clean food tools without small gaps to hide bacteria.
Corrosion resistance
It is a solid and reliable material that can be used regularly year after year. Despite being constantly hot and cold during use, stainless steel casting maintains smooth inner and outer surfaces.
Durability
Stainless steel casting has the potential to last a long time due to its corrosion resistance. Although the initial cost of purchasing stainless steel castings is high, its capacity can last up to 20+ years and does not require maintenance which means it is the most practical choice in the long run. These last were much longer than earthenware or ceramic alternatives.
Taste
The excellent quality of stainless steel casting is that it is a non-reactive material when it comes in contact with water or food. This means food tools will not smell or taste during the work process. Another advantage of this point is that it is easy to clean after use.
Appearance
Stainless steel casting material is an exquisite finish that effortlessly complements the traditional in a modern environment. While this material may not be available in various color variations, there are plenty of variations in the finish with a choice of matte, textured, or a smooth, glossy look.
Recycling
Cast stainless steel is a very environmentally friendly material and 100 percent recyclable. Stainless steel contains elements such as molybdenum, nickel, and chromium, which are valuable and easily separated during the recycling process. Once the alloy components are recovered, they can easily be reused in other projects. Also, efficiently cleaning this material means that aggressive cleaners are less likely to enter the wastewater stream.
Durable easy to clean
Stainless steel is easy to clean and does not quickly grow bacteria. Since it is low maintenance, food workers can clean it thoroughly and efficiently. This makes the material last longer than other metals.
Chemical-resistant
Although stainless steel grades will behave differently, most are generally chemical resistant. This means that even the heaviest bleach and other cleaners can be used on the surface without breaking down.
Compatible with heat
This is an advantageous property when working with heavy machinery. Stainless steel can withstand high temperatures and pressures without changing or altering it in any other way. Under this condition, it will also retain its shape.
Solid thin-wall casting
The investment casting process is more reliable welding with much thinner walls than sand welding. The advantages include significantly lower scrap rate and welding, which is due to the lower weight due to the thinner walls.
Stainless Steel Investment Casting
316L stainless steel is reduced carbon content based on 316 stainless steel. It is ultra-low carbon steel. It has good corrosion resistance to various organic acids, inorganic acids, alkali and salt, and has good corrosion resistance to inter-crystal corrosion.The welding performance is good, suitable for multi-layer welding, no heat treatment after welding, and no tendency of knife port corrosion after welding.
The SS304 is a common stainless steel material, also called 18-8 stainless steel with high toughness and high temperature resistant 800℃ in the industry, widely used in the industrial and furniture decoration industry and food and medical industry.
Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting
Stainless steel 316 has corrosion resistance better than 304 stainless steel and has good corrosion resistance in pulp and paper production.And the 316 stainless steel is also resistant to the erosion of the marine and corrosive industrial atmosphere.In intermittent use under 1600 degrees and in continuous use under 1700 degrees, the 316 stainless steel has good oxidation resistance.
Alloy Steel Investment Casting
Investment casting is a common casting scheme. The types of alloys that can be produced by investment casting are carbon steel, alloy steel, heat-resistant alloy, stainless steel, precision alloy, permanent magnet alloy, bearing alloy, copper alloy, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy and ductile iron. The investment casting process is complex and difficult to control, and the materials used and consumed are expensive, so it is suitable for the production of small parts with complex shape, high precision requirements, or difficult to carry out other processing.
Lost Wax Precision Casting Parts
These Lost Wax Precision Casting Parts are made of 420 stainless steel. 420 stainless steel is a martensitic stainless steel, which has a certain degree of wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and has a high hardness.
Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts
The raw material of Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts is alloy 431. 431 is a martensitic stainless steel manufactured according to American ASTM standards, with good strength and toughness. It has good corrosion resistance to aqueous solutions of oxidizing acid, most organic acids and organic salts.
Stainless Steel Investment Casting Parts
The raw material of these Stainless Steel Investment Casting Parts is 17-4PH stainless steel. 17-4PH is a precipitation hardening martensitic stainless steel consisting of copper, niobium and columbium.
Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting Parts
These Stainless Steel Lost Wax Casting Parts are made of alloy 2205. This material is a duplex stainless steel consisting of 22% chromium, 3% molybdenum, 5-6% nickel and nitrogen alloys. It has high strength, good impact toughness and good overall and local stress corrosion resistance.
The Alloy Steel Lost Wax Casting is manufactured by wax loss casting method. The products cast with wax loss method have no traces of shell or gasket. It is better to cast hollowed out objects with it. China's traditional investment casting skills have a great impact on the international metallurgical development.
Types of Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts
Austenitic stainless steel casting
Austenitic stainless steel castings are non-magnetic. When nickel is added to stainless steel in sufficient amounts the crystal structure changes to 'austenite'. The basic composition of austenitic stainless steel casting grade is 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This enhances their corrosion resistance and modifies the structure from ferritic to austenitic. Austenitic stainless steel casting grades are the most commonly used stainless steels casting material accounting for more than 70% of production (type 304 is the most commonly specified stainless steel casting grade by far). They are not hardenable by heat treatment.
Ferritic stainless steel casting
Ferritic stainless steel casting are plain chromium stainless steel casting process with a chromium content varying between 10.5 and 18% and a low carbon content. They are magnetic and not hardenable by heat treatment. Ferritic stainless steel casting grades have good ductility and formability but a relatively poor high temperature strength compared to that of austenitic grades.
Martensitic stainless steel casting
Martensitic stainless steel casting were the first stainless steel casting type that were commercially developed and have a relatively high carbon content (0.1 – 1.2%) compared to other stainless steel casting types. Martensitic stainless steel casting contains chromium between 12 and 18%. They are magnetic and hardenable by quenching and tempering like plain carbon steels and find their main application in cutlery, aerospace and general engineering.
Duplex stainless steel casting
These are stainless steels containing relatively high chromium levels (between 18 and 28%) and moderate amounts of nickel (between 4.5 and 8%). The high corrosion resistance and the excellent mechanical properties combination of duplex stainless steels can be explained by their chemical composition and balanced ('duplex') microstructure of approximately equivalent volume fractions of ferrite and austenite.
Aerospace industry
Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts is widely employed in the aerospace sector for manufacturing turbine blades, engine components, structural parts, and intricate aerospace components requiring high strength, precise geometry, and heat resistance.
Automotive industry
Various automotive applications utilize Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts for producing components such as turbocharger wheels, exhaust system parts, engine brackets, and suspension components, benefiting from the method's ability to create durable, high-quality parts.
Medical and healthcare
The medical field relies on Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts for manufacturing surgical instruments, implants, and medical equipment due to the method's capability to produce intricate, biocompatible, and corrosion-resistant components critical for medical use.
Oil and gas industry
The oil and gas sector utilizes this method for creating parts like valves, couplings, pumps, and fittings that require resistance to harsh environments, corrosion, and high-pressure conditions.
Marine industry
Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts is instrumental in producing marine components like propellers, shafts, valves, and fittings due to the corrosion-resistant properties of stainless steel, essential for marine applications.
Material of Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts
Austenitic stainless steels
These steels, notably grades 304 and 316, are extensively employed in Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts. 304 stainless steel is renowned for its exceptional corrosion resistance in various environments, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. Additionally, its excellent formability allows it to be easily shaped into intricate designs. Meanwhile, 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, enhancing its resistance to corrosive chemicals and acids, making it a preferred choice in industries dealing with harsher environments such as chemical processing or marine applications.
Martensitic stainless steels
Grades like 410 and 420 are preferred for their exceptional hardness and high tensile strength. Although these steels offer remarkable mechanical properties, they are comparatively less resistant to corrosion when compared to austenitic grades. This category finds its use in applications requiring high strength and wear resistance, such as manufacturing components like valves, gears, and surgical instruments.
Ferritic stainless steels
Including grade 430, these steels are appreciated for their good formability and resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Ferritic stainless steels find applications in automotive trim and architectural uses where their resistance to corrosion and ability to withstand certain harsh environments are beneficial.
Duplex stainless steel
Duplex stainless steel contains a mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite in roughly equal proportions.The specific grades within the duplex stainless steel family, like 2205 (uns s31803) and 2507 (uns s32750), are widely utilized in Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts due to their balanced properties. They are used in diverse industries ranging from chemical processing, oil and gas, to marine and structural applications, where a combination of corrosion resistance, strength, and durability is required.
Clean
In order to achieve the desired effect, the parts to be treated must be thoroughly cleaned with chemicals. This is done to remove foreign objects, contaminants, and other residues from the surface of the part. After cleaning the part, it will be inspected for residual contaminants to ensure that all foreign objects on the surface of the part are removed.
Dispose
The cleaned parts are then immersed in an acid solution for a controlled period of time. Acidic baths containing nitric or citric acid are used for passivation purposes. The choice of acid depends entirely on the grade of stainless steel in which the passivation is to be performed.
Process of Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts
Pattern creation
Design and creation of a pattern that replicates the desired part to be cast. This pattern can be made from wax, plastic, or other materials.
Assembly
Attaching the patterns to a central wax runner system, forming a cluster known as the "tree." gates and vents are added to facilitate the flow of molten metal and release air during casting.
Investment
Encasing the wax pattern tree in a ceramic shell by repeatedly dipping it in a slurry of ceramic material and coating it with a refractory material. This forms a hard shell around the pattern.
De-waxing
Heating the ceramic-coated assembly to melt and remove the wax, leaving behind a hollow cavity in the ceramic shell.
Preheating
Preheating the ceramic shell to a specific temperature to prepare it for the pouring of molten stainless steel.
Pouring
Melting stainless steel to its liquid state and pouring it into the preheated ceramic shell. The metal fills the cavity previously occupied by the wax pattern.
Solidification
Allowing the poured metal to cool and solidify within the ceramic mold, taking the shape of the desired part.
Shell removal
Breaking or removing the ceramic shell to reveal the solidified stainless steel casting.
Finishing
Removing any excess material, such as gates or vents, and performing necessary finishing operations like grinding, machining, polishing, or heat treatment to achieve the final desired specifications.
Technologies and methodologies employed in the process
Cad/cam (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing)
Utilizing advanced software to design intricate patterns and generate precise molds for the investment casting process.
3d printing
Employing additive manufacturing techniques for creating intricate wax patterns directly from digital designs, enhancing flexibility and reducing lead times.
Ceramic shell formation
Employing various techniques such as dipping, slurry coating, and stuccoing to create the ceramic shell around the wax pattern, ensuring uniform coating and strength.
Induction furnaces
Using induction furnaces to melt and maintain the stainless steel at the required temperature for pouring, ensuring accurate and controlled casting conditions.
Quality control and testing
Implementing stringent quality checks and testing methodologies to verify dimensional accuracy, structural integrity, and material properties of the final stainless steel castings.
Cad/cam (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing)
Utilizing advanced software to design intricate patterns and generate precise molds for the investment casting process.
3d printing
Employing additive manufacturing techniques for creating intricate wax patterns directly from digital designs, enhancing flexibility and reducing lead times.
Ceramic shell formation
Employing various techniques such as dipping, slurry coating, and stuccoing to create the ceramic shell around the wax pattern, ensuring uniform coating and strength.
Induction furnaces
Using induction furnaces to melt and maintain the stainless steel at the required temperature for pouring, ensuring accurate and controlled casting conditions.
Quality control and testing
Implementing stringent quality checks and testing methodologies to verify dimensional accuracy, structural integrity, and material properties of the final stainless steel castings.
How the Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts Works
Steel investment casting is a process that produces complex and precise metal parts by pouring molten stainless steel into a ceramic mold made from wax molds. A wax model is a replica of a metal part that is formed by injecting wax into a metal mold. A ceramic mold is a shell made by immersing a wax mold in a ceramic slurry, then drying and firing. The molten stainless steel is then poured into a ceramic mold and solidified into metal parts. The ceramic mold is then broken and removed, leaving behind the metal parts. Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts can produce high-quality, high-performance metal parts that have excellent corrosion resistance, wear resistance, strength, and durability. Stainless Steel Precision Casting Parts can also produce parts with complex shapes, thin walls, smooth surfaces, and tight tolerances.
Company Profile
Wabon Precision Metal Co. Ltd ,Founded in 2014, is a professional manufacturer and exporter of investment casting,which covered the mould manufacturing, CNC machining and surface finishing treatment.The company has precision casting and machining Production lines, covering a total area of over 30,000 square meters, and employs about 180 employees. The headquarters is located in a famous Chinese cultural city, the hometown of Confucius, Jining City, Shandong Province, Qingdao Port in the east and Jinan Yaowall International Airport in the north. The traffic conditions are very convenient.
FAQ
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