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Platinum Casting
By Dr. Ulrich E. Klotz & Tiziana Drago, Research Institute
Precious Metals & Metals Chemistry (FEM)
2011
800.545.6566
riogrande.com
1. Introduction
Casting is a process with many variables that cant be controlled at will, and
therefore has a somewhat chaotic nature.15 This requires many casting trials and
a statistical analysis of the results obtained. It also appears very difficult to make
simple recommendations about a specific set of working parameters.
The findings on platinum investment casting described in this paper are the result
of a research project commissioned by the Platinum Guild International, USA
(PGI) in cooperation with several industrial partners. In the following sections
the properties of platinum alloys will be described as a basis for discussion of the
observed casting behavior. Then experimental details will be described, followed
by the casting results obtained with centrifugal and tilting casting. The paper will
close with a summary of results and an outlook recommending topics for further
research on platinum jewelry alloys.
May 2010
287
Klotz
Klotz
95Pt5Co
950Pt - 50Ru
950Pt - 50Co
1815/3299
1672/3042
1797/3267
1654/3009
18/64
18/64
39/102
78/172
288
May 2010
289
Klotz
The normalized density for gold and platinum and some of their alloys is
plotted in Figure 3. The pure metals show a very large density reduction during
freezing, resulting in high sensitivity to shrinkage porosity. For gold alloys this
density reduction is much lower than for the pure metal, while platinum alloys
show shrinkage comparable to pure Pt. Furthermore, the slope of the densitytemperature curve is a factor of two higher compared to gold (i.e., overheating
required during melting further increases the proneness to shrinkage porosity of
platinum alloys).
Figure 3 Density of precious metals and their alloys in the liquid and solid state
Platinum alloys have a high viscosity compared to gold or silver (Figure 4a).
Alloying with Co and Cu reduces viscosity, but alloying contents typical for
jewelry alloys are too low, allowing values comparable to gold alloys (Figure 4b).
Surface tension of platinum is about a factor of 1.5 higher compared to gold.18
Thermal conductivity of Pt is about one-third of Au and a factor of six lower
than Ag. These three propertiessurface tension, viscosity and thermal
conductivityare important factors influencing the filling of filigree items during
casting. High surface tension and viscosity make it more difficult for the melt to
flow smoothly into small cavities of the flask. Low thermal conductivity results
290
Klotz
a)
b)
Figure 4 Viscosity of precious metal melts and alloys
May 2010
291
3. Experimental Setup
3.1 Casting Machine and Machine Parameters
Klotz
Most of the casting experiments were made using a TopCast TCE10 casting
machine with induction heating (Figure 5). For melting it was operated with full
power of 10kW. Metal temperature during heating and melting was registered
by a computer-controlled quotient pyrometer (Maurer, model QKTR1085) with
100Hz acquisition rate. A typical heating curve is shown in Figure 6. At the
melting point the heating curve reaches a plateau until the complete amount of
alloy is liquid. Alloy weight used in the casting trials was 100 180g. Complete
melting was observed by the caster and the melt was then overheated for 5(1)
seconds before casting. During this time temperature increases linearly with
time. As the temperature increases very quickly, precise control of overheating is
important. From the slope of the time-temperature curve the variation of casting
temperature can be estimated to be 40K during the one-second reaction time of
the caster. Complete heating time until casting was only 30-40 seconds, depending
on amount and type of alloy. Cooling time was measured by pointing the
pyrometer on the metal button in the flask. In vacuum, cooling time of the melt
button is by a factor of 2 longer compared with gas atmosphere (air/argon),
explaining the occurrence of gas porosity in vacuum casting.
Figure 5 (a) Topcast TCE10 centrifugal casting machine with pyrometer and
temperature data acquisition system; (b) detail of centrifugal arm,
heating coil and orientation of tree in casting machine
292
May 2010
293
Klotz
Klotz
294
3.3 Investment
Four different investments from different suppliers were tested during the
project. Table 2 gives an overview on the properties of the investment and briefly
describes the experience in working with them.
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295
Klotz
During centrifugal casting three forces act on the material. First, inertia of the melt
acts during the acceleration of the flask and results in increased form filling of the
parts on the trailing side of the flask. Second, centrifugal force is constant for all
positions on the tree depending on distance from the center. Third, gravity assists
filling of bottom parts of the flask. Therefore, tree design plays an important
role for optimization of casting results. All items were characterized by their
position on the tree relative to the centrifugal direction as given in Figure 8.
During placement of the flask in the casting machine, the flask is tilted upside
down. Therefore, position 90 is on the top of the flask during casting. Best form
filling is expected for positions 0 and 90 because of the combined action of
inertia and gravity.
No. 1
Investment
3-part
3-part
Type
Rubber base
Paper base
and liner
Paper base
and liner
20-25
30
Mixing
time [min]
5-7
5-7
10-12
10-12
Working
time [min]
10.0
11.5
12.0
12.0
Burnout
time [h]
900/1652
900/1652
870/1598
871/1600
Burnout
temp.
[C/F]
Klotz
No. 2
2-part/
fiber
Rubber base
No. 3
2-part/
fiber
Remarks
No. 4
296
Investments No. 1 and No. 2 are three-part investments. They do not cure at room
temperature and therefore have sufficient working time. However, they require
a paper base and liner to absorb excessive water during burnout. The paper
base requires wax sealing and careful handling of the flask. Prior to casting, ash
residues have to be removed from the hot flask.
Investments No. 3 and No. 4 are two-part and quickly cure at room temperature
during the investing process. No. 4 is fiber reinforced; therefore, working time can
be very short and viscosity increases during working. In some cases this caused
filigree parts to bend during the investing process or caused gas bubbles to stick
on the surface of the wax parts. Mixing with cold water allowed slight extension
of working time. These two investments can be handled with rubber bases and
cure sufficiently before actual burnout.
The burnout cycles of the investments are compared in Figure 9. No. 1 and No.
2 require several steps before reaching final burnout temperature. A first step
at around 100C (212F) is required to evaporate the water from the flask; wax
melting takes place at around 200C (392F); and final burnout and curing of the
investment during heating to and holding at around 900C (1652F). No. 4 and No.
3 become solid already at room temperature. Therefore, only one step at 200C to
melt the wax is required before reaching the burnout temperature of 900C. All
investments require burnout times of 10-12 hours (i.e., overnight burnout).
Klotz
May 2010
297
Klotz
no.
Alloy
Tree
Investment
Casting
Flask
temp.
temp.
[C]
[C]
Acceleration
Atmosphere
Speed
[rpm/s]
[rpm]
GPt001
95Pt5Ru
4A
No. 1
850
Air
300
300
GPt002
95Pt5Ru
1A
No. 1
850
Air
300
300
GPt003
95Pt5Ru
2A
No. 1
850
Air
300
300
GPt004
95Pt5Ru
3A
No. 1
850
Air
300
300
GPt005
95Pt5Ru
2A
No. 1
850
Air
300
600
GPt006
95Pt5Ru
2A
No. 1
850
Air
440
600
GPt007
95Pt5Ru
1A
No. 1
850
Air
440
600
GPt008
95Pt5Ru
1A
No. 1
850
Air
300
600
GPt009
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
850
Air
300
300
GPt010
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
850
Air
440
600
GPt011
95Pt5Ru
1A
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt012
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt013
95Pt5Ru
2A
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt014
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt015
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt016
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt017
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt018
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt019
95Pt5Ru
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt021
95Pt5Ru
4AG
No. 1
950
Vacum
440
600
GPt022
95Pt5Ru
3AG
No. 1
950
Vacum
440
600
GPt023
95Pt5Ru
3AG
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt024
95Pt5Ru
3AG
No. 1
950
Vacuum
440
600
GPt025
95Pt5Ru
4AG
No. 1
550
Vacum
440
600
GPt026
95Pt5Ru
4AT
No. 1
850
Vacum
440
600
298
GPt027
Pt--5Co
4AG
No. 1
850
Air
440
600
GPt028
95Pt5Co
4AG
No. 1
850
Vacum
440
600
GPt029
95Pt5Co
4AS
No. 1
850
Vacum
440
600
GPt030
95Pt5Co
4AS
No. 1
850
Air
440
600
GPt031
95Pt5Co
4ATS
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt032
95Pt5Co
4ATS
No. 1
950
Vacum
440
600
GPt033
95Pt5Ru
4ATS
No. 1
950
Air
440
600
GPt034
95Pt5Ru
4ATS
No. 1
950
Vacum
440
600
GPt041
95Pt5Co
13
No. 4
1947
850
Air
440
600
GPt042
95Pt5Ru
13
No. 4
2016
850
Air
440
600
GPt043
95Pt5Co
13
No. 4
1980
950
Air
440
600
GPt044
95Pt5Ru
13
No. 4
2059
950
Air
440
600
GPt045
95Pt5Co
13
No. 2
1989
850
Air
440
600
GPt046
95Pt5Ru
13
No. 2
2019
850
Air
440
600
GPt047
95Pt5Co
13
No. 2
1983
950
Air
440
600
GPt048
95Pt5Ru
13
No. 2
2065
950
Air
440
600
GPt049
95Pt5Co
13
No. 2
2180
950
Air
440
600
GPt050
95Pt5Ru
13
No. 2
2252
950
Air
440
600
GPt051
95Pt5Co
13
No. 2
1994
1050
Air
440
600
GPt052
95Pt5Ru
13
No. 2
2045
1050
Air
440
600
Klotz
299
Klotz
300
Figure 11 Grid filling in casting trials GPt014 019 with 95Pt5Ru as a function of tree
setup and grid position on tree; averaged values of two casting trials per tree setup
Flask temperature (Figure 12) has a strong effect on form filling. Higher
form filling is obtained for 950C (1742F); in most cases grid fill of >60% is
reached. For 850C (1562F) the maximum value is below 60%.
Centrifugal speed (Figure 13) has a strong effect and promotes form filling.
Casting atmosphere (Figure 14) has a moderate effect on form filling. Form
filling is usually better in vacuum than in air casting. However, perfect fill
can also be obtained with air casting and in most cases grid fill was above
60%.
Casting temperature (Figure 15) has a weak effect on form filling. Higher
flask temperature tends to promote form filling. Casting temperature is
difficult to measure and can only be controlled by the melting time and
visual control of complete melting, which depends on the appraisal of the
caster.
Perfect form filling was always achieved for 95Pt5Co independent of casting
conditions. Therefore, this alloy is superior to 95Pt5Ru in terms of form
filling ability.
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Klotz
For the numerous tests, grid filling was evaluated for 95Pt5Ru as a function of
casting parameters as given in Figure 12 Figure 15. The averaged values for all
grids per tree were chosen for evaluation, and results for 95Pt5Co are given for
comparison. The 45 position was present on all trees, while on some trees positions
135, 225 and 315 were also used. In general, like in previous investigations,14
large scatter is observed for grid fill because not all casting parameters can be
fully controlled.15 However, some clear tendencies can be determined from the
grid filling results:
Klotz
302
Klotz
4.2.2
A ball ring with ring shank diameter of 3.6mm, ball diameter of 9.5mm and total
diameter of 24.5mm was used as the standard object in all casting trials. The ball
ring was sprued either on the ball or on the ring shank opposite to the ball in order
May 2010
303
to test for form filling, surface appearance and shrinkage porosity under different
casting conditions.
Form filling of the heavy ball ring was no problem under most casting conditions.
Even at a very low flask temperature of 550C/1022F (Trial #GPt025), complete
filling of the ball ring was achieved. At a flask temperature of 1050C/1922F
(Trial #GPt051 and 052 with No. 2), the investment breaks down and form filling
is incomplete. Maximum flask temperature for this type of investment should
therefore not exceed 950C 1000C (1742F 1832F).
The surface of the ball ring is characterized by areas with glossy and matte
surface. Table 4 gives a relative appraisal of surface quality, with the best surface
quality indicated by +++, while the worst was indicated by +.
Klotz
850C
950C
1050C
850C
950C
1050C
++
++
n.a.
+++
+++
n.a.
+++
++
++
++(+)
++(+)
No. 4
++
n.a.
n.a.
No. 3
+++
+++
n.a.
(cracks)
(cracks)
Investment
Devesting
No. 1
No. 2
n.a.
The investment material has strong influence on surface quality. The three-part
investments No. l and No. 2 show much better performance than the two-part
investments No. 3 and No. 4. Of the three-part investments No. 1 appears slightly
better with lower tendency to show fins. However, the difference between No. 1
and No. 2 is very small. For No. 1 and No. 2 there is no obvious influence of flask
temperature or casting atmosphere. The ball always has a matte surface, while
the ring shank is partially glossy. No. 4 shows a rougher surface for a flask
temperature of 950C (1742F) compared to 850C (1562F).
SEM investigations of the ball and the ring shank showed the topology of the
surface. For No. 2 and No. 1 the surface is fully dendritic (Figure 16). Almost no
residues of investment were found. On the matte part of the surface, the dendrites
did not reach the surface of the ring cavity in the flask. This can be explained by
premature freezing of the ring shank close to the sprue, preventing directional
solidification and therefore complete form filling. In some cases the dendritic
surface was restricted to one side of the sample, which was on the trailing sample
side relative to centrifugal direction. In this case the liquid metal is forced to one
side of the flask cavity by centrifugation, resulting in a glossy surface on this side
and a matte, dendritic surface on the other side. In the glossy part of the surface
304
dendrites are still visible (Figure 16b), but the surface appears relatively smooth
(i.e., the melt was in direct contact with the flask cavity during solidification). No
signs were found that the matte surface was caused by investment reactions.
a)
b)
May 2010
305
Klotz
With investment No. 4 the surface of the ball rings strongly depends on flask
temperature. At 850C (1562F) the surface is similar to investment No. 2
or investment No. 1 (Figure 17). However, micro shrinkage and residues of
investment material are frequently found in the matte areas. Even in the glossy
parts the surface shows micro shrinkage and is less smooth compared to the other
investments. At a flask temperature of 950C/1742F (Figure 18), the surface
appears very rough (please note that Figure 18a was taken with the same
magnification as the other pictures). Larger shrinkage pores and investment
residues are sticking to the surface. In the glossy parts the surface is comparable to
850C (1562F), especially for samples with thinner cross section. These findings
indicate that at 950C (1742F), investment No. 4 might be beyond its working
temperature for heavy parts such as the ball ring, where the ball acts as a hotspot,
strongly heating up the investment and promoting investment breakdown. For
filigree parts the surface is smoother at both flask temperatures and comparable
to investment No. 1 and investment No. 2.
a)
b)
Klotz
a)
b)
306
Klotz
a)
b)
Figure 19 a) Hard investment particles (SiO2) embedded in
95Pt5Ru casting (Investment No. 1/850C/vacuum); b) EDX
spectrum at position 4 showing Si and O signal
May 2010
307
A second type of very small, non-metallic inclusions with spherical shape was
found more frequently independent from casting conditions or investment. The
rounded edges indicate reaction with the alloy. The inclusions contained Si, O, Al,
and Mg from the investment or crucible material. Because of their small size and
low quantity, such particles are probably not critical in jewelry applications.
Klotz
The porosity was assessed by metallographic sections of as-cast rings. The section
was cut through the complete ring from sprue to ball. An overview of typical
examples of these sections is shown in Figure 20 for 850C (1562F) and 950C
(1742F), respectively. Porosity was evaluated qualitatively in terms of low
(acceptable, with either no porosity visible in the shanks or small pores in the
heavy parts) or high (with large pores or accumulated fine pores in the heaviest
part of the casting) or very high (unacceptable, with large pores near the surface
of the casting in its heaviest section) (Table 5). In the case of 95Pt5Ru, a strongly
dendritic solidification with large, intersecting dendrites was observed. The
chaotic formation of a three-dimensional dendritic network by the growing
crystals prevents the flow of the liquid metal. Typically, this results in numerous
small pores distributed in the ball or ring shank. As shown later, 95Pt5Co showed
a different freezing behavior, resulting in few but larger pores.
a)
b)
c)
d)
308
No. 1
No. 4
No. 2
850C/air
n.a.
+++
++
950C/air
++
+++
++
850C/vacuum
n.a.
n.a.
950C/vacuum
++
n.a.
n.a.
May 2010
309
Klotz
The most common defect was shrinkage porosity in the ball and/or in the ring
shank. Generally, porosity was low in the shank sections, while it was worse
in the heaviest part of the casting (ball and sprue sections). This is caused by
premature freezing of the ring shank. Under the casting parameters investigated
it was not possible to achieve complete directional solidification, not even if the
ring was sprued on the ball. The centrifugation forces the liquid metal to flow to
one side of the ring. As a consequence, the shrinkage porosity is concentrated on
the opposite side. This is illustrated in Figure 21, where the large shrinkage pore
in the ball is asymmetric to the ball center. On the lower side the ball surface is
rough and dendritic, while the opposite side is smooth because the liquid metal
is forced to the upper side by centrifugation, and the frozen ring shank prevented
directional solidification. This was the typical behavior observed for investments
No. 1 and No. 2. The same principle is valid for No. 4, but this investment showed
the best casting results for the ball ring in terms of porosity. Shrinkage pores did
not accumulate to one big shrinkage hole but instead were scattered throughout
the complete ring.
Klotz
a)
b)
c)
d)
310
a)
b)
The 95Pt5Ru casting results for heavy items can be summarized as follows:
The casting defects observed were caused by non-directional solidification
and premature freezing of the ring shank or sprue.
Shrinkage pores accumulated by centrifugation were located in the ball (in
the case of shank sprue) or at the transition from ball to sprue (ball sprue).
Defect-free casting of ball rings could not be obtained with the chosen casting
parameters. Lowest shrinkage porosity was observed for investment No. 4 at
850C (1562F) flask temperature.
High flask and melt temperature tend to reduce shrinkage porosity, but
chosen values are already close to investment breakdown temperature.
Gas porosity was merely observed for all investment materials even under
extreme casting conditions.
May 2010
311
Klotz
Gas porosity was merely observed under the chosen casting conditions and
for the investment materials used. Figure 20 shows a comparison of the three
investments for a flask temperature of 950C (1742F) at air casting. Melt
temperature was about 2060C (3740F) except for Figure 20d, where the melt was
overheated by 200C (360F). Scattered gas pores were found in all castings with
a tendency for increased gas porosity with increasing flask temperature and for
vacuum casting compared to air casting. Even in the case of an overheated melt,
no significant gas porosity was found for the No. 2 investment. No. 4 investment
showed numerous pores after casting. However, high magnification reveals that
these pores are, according to their shape, scattered shrinkage pores rather than gas
pores. Therefore, gas porosity was no major issue for 95Pt5Ru even under extreme
casting conditions.
Klotz
Figure 23a
312
Figure 23b
Klotz
Figure 23c
May 2010
313
Figure 23d
Klotz
Figure 23 a) Reaction between 95Pt5Co alloy and investment material indicated by the
dark blue color of investment in contact with the alloy; b) EDX measurement showing
Co from the alloy and Si, O, Mg, Ca, and P from the investment; c) metallographic cross
section through reaction products; d) EDX spectrum at position 11
The surface of 95Pt5Co ball rings usually appears rougher compared to 95Pt5Ru.
No glossy parts can be found on the ring shank or sprue but the surface appears
matte all over the ring. Table 4 gives a relative comparison of surface quality of
as-cast parts, showing that results with 95Pt5Co were slightly worse than with
95Pt5Ru. Investment No. 2 showed the smoothed surface similar to No. 1, while
parts cast in No. 4 had the roughest surface. On filigree parts, such as the grid,
it was very difficult to remove the investment completely, while it fell off heavy
parts.
SEM investigations of ball and ring shank showed a dendritic structure in most
parts of the surface. Results for investment No. 2 are given in Figure 24 showing
the transition from ring shank with dendritic structure to the sprue connection
where the surface is smooth. The dendritic surface is attributed to non-directional
solidification. A smooth surface only appeared directly at the sprue. The surface
is partially covered with black-appearing reaction products of the alloy and No.
2 investment. For the No. 4 investment these black residues were found to a
much larger extent between the dendrites (Figure 25). Practically the complete
interdendritic space shows a film-like layer of reaction product. EDX
measurements (Position 3) showed high concentration of Co from the alloy
and O, Si, P and Mg from the investment. The EDX spectrum is similar to the
measurement on the blue layer of the investment material (Figure 23). A thin layer
of a second reaction product of the 95Pt5Co alloy was found on the dendrite tips
(Position 2 in Figure 25). EDX measurements showed high concentrations of Co
and O, while the Pt signal is coming from the alloy matrix. Co forms several black
oxides, among which cobalt(II) oxide (CoO) forms a low melting eutectic with
cobalt at 1451C (2644F). The formation of CoO is promoted by the segregation of
314
Co to the interdendritic areas. A thin layer of CoO probably forms on the surface
during casting, and this reacts with the investment to form the blue Co silicate
layer. For investment No. 4 this reaction is much more pronounced compared to
No. 2 or No. 1. Additives of the investment may play an important role in these
reactions. Casting in vacuum or protective atmosphere prevents Co oxidation and
investment reaction.
a)
b)
May 2010
315
Klotz
b)
Klotz
a)
c)
d)
Figure 25 SEM investigation of as-cast surface of trial GPt041
(No. 4/850C/air/ 95Pt5Co); a) Surface of the ball with
interdendritic residues of investment; b) Backscattered electron image;
c), d) EDX point measurements at Positions 2 and 3, respectively.
316
b)
c)
d)
Klotz
a)
No. 1
No. 4
No. 2
850C/air
950C/air
850C/vacuum
n.a.
n.a.
950C/ vacuum
n.a.
n.a.
May 2010
317
Klotz
The 95Pt5Co casting results for heavy items can be summarized as follows:
95Pt5Co shows investment reactions manifested by a blue layer of Co
silicate. Such reactions increase with increasing flask temperature and
are stronger in air casting.
Shrinkage porosity is caused by non-directional solidification and
premature freezing of the ring shank or sprue. Flask and melt
temperature had no remarkable influence on shrinkage porosity.
Defect-free casting of ball rings could not be obtained with the chosen
casting parameters. The investment material showed little influence on
shrinkage porosity.
Gas porosity was merely observed for the chosen casting parameters and
investment materials.
318
Alloy
Tree
Investment
Casting
temp. [C]
Flask
temp. [C]
Atmosphere
GPt035
95Pt5Ru
MC15
No. 3
1850
950
Vacuum
GPt036
95Pt5Ru
MC15
No. 3
1962
850
Vacuum
GPt037
95Pt5Ru
MC15
No. 3
1935
950
Vacuum
GPt038
95Pt5Co
MC15
No. 3
1928
950
Vacuum
GPt039
95Pt5Co
MC15
No. 3
1886
950
Vacuum
GPt040
95Pt5Co
MC15
No. 3
1954
850
Vacuum
a)
b)
May 2010
319
Klotz
Figure 27 shows the surface of as-cast parts for both alloys and flask temperatures.
The surfaces are smooth for both alloys and usually smoother than the
centrifugal cast parts. With 95Pt5Ru a non-metallic, glassy surface layer formed
around the ball, which shows large dendrites on the surface. The glassy layer
seems to stem from melting of the investment materials around the ball. The
95Pt5Co ball ring has a smooth, clean surface without dendritic structure.
SEM investigation of the surface showed smooth, slightly dendritic surface for
both alloys (Figure 28). In the case of 95Pt5Ru, surface cracks along the grain
boundaries are present, which formed during spontaneous cracking of the ring
at room temperature. The 95Pt5Co ring shows no cracks but some residues of
investment.
a)
b)
Klotz
Metallographic cross sections along the rings plane are shown in Figure 29 for
both alloys and flask temperatures. 95Pt5Ru shows similar form filling compared
to centrifugal casting experiments, with scattered shrinkage holes in the ball and
the sprue. No remarkable difference in porosity between 850C (1562F) and
950C (1742F) flask temperature was observed.
95Pt5Ru
95Pt5Co
a)
b)
c)
d)
850C/
Vacuum
950C/
Vacuum
320
a)
b)
With 95Pt5Co a large shrinkage hole was present close to the center of the ball
at 850C (1562F) flask temperature. Compared to centrifugal casting the pore is
spherical and closer to the center because no centrifugal force was acting. Very
good casting results were obtained with a flask temperature of 950C (1742F).
The ball ring is filled completely without any shrinkage pores. Cracks were not
observed in any of the 95Pt5Co castings.
5.3 Summary
Casting results with a tilt casting machine were strongly dependent on alloy.
95Pt5Ru showed similar form filling compared to centrifugal casting but hot
tearing due to long and intensive investment reactions because of longer process
times and high metal temperature. 95Pt5Co showed perfect form filling and
smooth surfaces for a flask temperature of 950C. Form filling was better than
with centrifugal casting. Whether the good form filling can be attributed to the
different tree design or the applied overpressure remains open for discussion.
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In recent years casting simulation proved to be a valuable tool for gold and silver
casting.19-23 Sophisticated software packages are available on the market to
determine form filling and shrinkage porosity depending on alloy, tree setup,
and melt and flask temperature, allowing optimization by computer simulation.
In case of platinum this would pay off even more, because of high material price
and extreme casting and flask temperatures.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful for financial support by Platinum Guild International,
with special thanks to Jurgen Maerz. C. Hafner GmbH, Germany enabled the
project by providing platinum alloys, which is kindly acknowledged. The
companies Ransom&Randolph, Lane Industries and Specialist Refractory Services
(SRS) are acknowledged for allocation of investment materials and Indutherm
GmbH, Germany for casting experiments with their MC15 casting machine.
Special thanks to Dieter Ott for fruitful discussions of the project results and to
the staff members of the metallurgy department at FEM, especially to Franz Held
and Ulrike Schindler for casting trials and metallography.
REFERENCES
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(December 2004): 5-16.
2. N. Swan, Casting Platinum Jewellery A Challenging Process, Platinum
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11. H. Frye, M. Yasrebi and D.H. Sturgis, Basic Ceramic Considerations for the
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