Comparison of Dimensional Accuracy for Different Investment Casting Shells and Binders Based on Selective Laser Sintering

Abstract

The dimensional accuracy of shells and binders of investment casting which incorporation with selective laser sintering is investigated. The results show that the dimensional accuracy of colloidal silica is higher than that of ethyl silicate, and the dimensional variation rate of investment casting shells produced with colloidal silica is much lower than ethyl silicate shells. Moreover, colloidal silica possesses better performance on environmental protection and production cost control. These indicate that the comprehensive properties of colloidal silica are better than that of ethyl silicate. Meanwhile, the average dimensional variation rate of the single colloidal silica shell and the ethyl silicate-colloidal silica alteration shell was almost identical and it was much lower than that of the other shells which were produced in this study. This means two kinds of shells are optimized in all five types of shells studied in the aspect of dimensional accuracy. The unique properties of two shells show clearly direction to choose the type of shell.