PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES & KNOW-HOW FOR MAKING & MEASURING IN THE LABORATORY & WORKSHOP

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GREENSAND CASTING IV

Melting the Metal

Depending on the size and nature of the casting, the metal will need to be heated to about 100 -200 degrees C above its melting point. The table shows the temperatures for different metals and alloys:

METAL; MP deg C; Casting temp deg C
Aluminium Alloy 600 -660 800
Brass/Bronze 930 1100
Iron 1536 1700

There is a variety of methods to heat the metal. The most expensive and the cleanest is to use an electrically- or gas-heated furnace, aluminium and bronze can be successfully melted on a blacksmith's forge, Iron needs a furnace which can be fired with gas or solid fuel, but it does need a tuyère (a heated air blast). Particular care needs to be taken to provide ventilation when casting in brass. This is because Zinc is volatile at the casting temperatures and tends to be lost from the alloy. Its toxicity is significant and for brass casting an efficient fume extraction is essential. The fusion process is assisted by the addition to the melt of proprietary fluxes. These encourage fusion and and a mobile melt, reduce oxides and inhibit the formation of dross.
For brass, bronze and copper, the addition of SLAX 20 slag coagulant inhibits the inclusion of non-metallic residues in the casting. It is a coarse yellow powder which when added to the crucible before pouring (about 20gm per kilo) makes a crust which traps debris and dross and prevents it being carried over with the metal. Cuprit 1 or Cuprex 1 are members of a range of melt-cleaning additives in tablet form which can be added to red bronze or brass melts prior to pouring. They are available from Foseco.
For aluminium and its alloys, Nitral C19 can be added to degas the alloy and prevent occlusions in the castings. Coverall II is a proprietary flux which inhibits oxidation of aluminium alloys and can be added to the melt before pouring.