Archives of Foundry Engineering

Abstract

For the manufacture of near net shape complex titanium products, it is necessary to use investment casting process. Melting of titanium is promising to carry out by electron beam casting technology, which allows for specific processing of the melt, and accordingly control the structure and properties of castings of titanium alloys. However, the casting of titanium in ceramic molds is usually accompanied by a reaction of the melt with the mold. In this regard, the aim of the work was to study the interaction of titanium melt with ceramics of shell molds in the conditions of electron beam casting technology. Ceramic molds were made by using the following refractory materialsfused corundum Al2O3, zircon ZrSiO4 and yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide ZrO2, and ethyl silicate as a binder. Melting and casting of CP titanium was performed in an electron beam foundry. Samples were made from the obtained castings and electron microscopic metallography was performed. The presence and morphology of the altered structure, on the sample surface, were evaluated and the degree and nature of their interaction were determined. It was found that the molds with face layers of zirconium oxide (Z1) and zircon (ZS1) and backup layers of corundum showed the smallest interaction with the titanium melt. Corundum interacts with titanium to form a non-continuous reaction layer with thickness of 400-500 μm. For shell molds with face and backup layers of zircon on the surface of the castings, a reaction layer with thickness of 500-600 μm is formed. In addition, zirconium-silicon eutectic was detected in these layers.