Effect of Nanosized TiO₂ on Nucleation and Growth of Cristobalite in Sintered Fused Silica Cores for Investment Casting

Abstract:

Sintered fused silica is often used for making sacrificial cores in investment castings of Ni superalloys. Their usage is fundamental in the manufacture of precise superalloy gas turbine components with complex internal cooling passages. In this study SiO2/ZrSiO4/TiO2 cores were prepared from fused silica powders with different grain size and zircon and TiO2 content by slip casting method. Green samples were sintered at 1230°C at various soaking time: from 0,5 to 10 hours. Thermomechanical and microstructural properties of optimized silica obtained by add of 1,5%wt of TiO2 to SiO2/ZrSiO4 composition have been investigated by three point bending tests, XRD and Hg porosimetric analysis. The influence of cristobalite content on thermal stability at high temperature was studied by an optical dilatometer. At temperature below 1200°C TiO2 appears to act as a phase transformation inhibitor reducing the transformation rate of fused silica to cristobalite at high temperatures. At higher temperature it speeds up the formation of cristobalite. A comparison with commercial silica cores made by injection moulding has been performed. A prototype core was obtained and an investment casting was performed on that.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 68)
• Pages: 153-158
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AST.68.153
• Online since: October 2010
• Authors: Giuseppe Casarano, Antonio Licciulli, Antonio Chiechi, Daniela Diso, Danilo Bardaro, Pasquale Bene, Michele Di Foggia
• Keywords: Cristobalite, Fused Silica, Investment Metal Casting, Optical Dilatometer, Slip Casting, Thermal Stability, Titania

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