Evaluation of crucible and investment materials for lost wax investment casting of Ti and NiTi alloys

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of selected commercial ceramic crucibles for the investment casting of Ti6Al4V and NiTi alloys for jewellery purposes. A commercial vacuum tilt casting machine and a centrifugal casting machine were employed to cast the alloys in cold copper moulds or in refractory investment shells. The form filling of the shell and the crucible and investment reactions were assessed by microstructural investigation, chemical analysis and hardness profiles of the as cast items as a function of shell temperature. The reaction of the alloys strongly depended on the alloy, the crucible material, the coating of the crucibles and the temperature of the ceramic shell. Optimum results were achieved with yttria and yttria coated Al titanate crucibles for Ti6Al4V and NiTi alloys respectively. Improvement of the materials and process costs is necessary to allow the competitive casting of jewellery made from titanium alloys.