There are hundreds of different types of alloy investment castings. Alloys are created when a metal is mixed with one or more additional elements. Many different products are created with alloys rather than pure metals, for a variety of reasons. Typically, when a finished product needs a property not present in a pure metal, the metal will be combined with other substances that will result in an alloy that does provide the desired properties.

When selecting an investment casting manufacturer, it is important to be certain that you are selecting a foundry that has the ability to work with the type of metals or alloys that are best suited for your products. There are hundreds of different types of alloy investment castings. Two of the most commonly used alloys for investment casting are aluminum alloy and nickel based metallic substances.

Aluminum Alloy Investment Castings

Aluminum, for example, has the advantage of being among the most lightweight of metals. However, by itself, aluminum is not resistant to corrosion and is not particularly strong. In order to create products that are lightweight, strong, and corrosion resistant, alloy investment castings are made using an alloy combination of aluminum and another element such as zinc, magnesium, or copper.

Aluminum alloy investment castings are frequently used for military and commercial aerospace and electronics products. Motors and valves are also frequently made from alloy investment castings.

Nickel Based Alloy Investment Castings

Nickel is frequently used as a base for many different alloys. A nickel base is particularly beneficial for products that are subject to very hot temperatures, are located within a corrosive environment, and/or are subjected to high stress on a regular basis. Generally speaking, nickel based alloy investment castings fare better in extreme conditions than those made from stainless steel. They also tend to hold up better in water than other pure metals or alloys.

Substances frequently combined with nickel to make alloy investment castings include: copper, iron, silicon, cobalt, and others. Nickel alloy investment castings are very common in pulp and paper mills, which are highly corrosive environments.

Choosing Alloy Investment Castings

When selecting an alloy for your investment casting needs, it is important to consider the function of the products you are producing as well as the type of environment in which they will be placed. With so many different types of alloys available, you will be able to select the perfect combination for your alloy investment castings.

To learn more about aluminum alloy investment castings.