Directional Solidification Of Steel Castings

Directional Solidification of Steel Castings summarizes the results of a large number of investigations, mostly scientific in character, on the directional solidification of steel castings. The influence of design on the technical possibilities of producing casting in the foundry is examined. Diagrams, simple basic rules, and formulae are provided, along with many practical examples. This book is comprised of 16 chapters and begins with an introduction to the technical and psychological aspects of steel casting before turning to a discussion of the influence of shape and dimensions on the time it takes for castings to solidify. The thermal gradient, feeder heads, and cavities in steel castings are then considered. In particular, the effect of the thermal gradient on solidification and feeding range are examined. Methods for increasing the thermal gradient in the casting are described, including the use of mold heating pads, breaker cores or Washburn cores; external cooling (iron chills); cooling fins; internal chills; and exothermic pads. Cavities in steel castings which are commonly mistaken for true shrinkage cavities are also analyzed. This monograph is particularly suitable for foundry managers, foremen, technicians, casting designers, and students.

Introduction; Liquid Metals and the Gating of Castings; Solidification 1 -- Crystallization and the development of cast structure; Solidification 2 -- the Feeding of Castings; The Moulding Material -- Properties, Preparation and Testing; Defects in Castings; Quality Assessment and Control; Casting Design; Production Techniques 1 -- the Manufacture of Sand Castings; Mould Production; Melting and Casting; Finishing Operations; Production Techniques 2 -- Shell, Investment and Die Casting Techniques; Production Techniques 3 -- Further Casting techniques; Environmental Protection, Health and Safety; Appendix; Index.

This collection encompasses the following four areas: (1) Solidification processing: theoretical and experimental investigations of solidification processes including castings solidification, directional solidification of alloys, electromagnetic stirring, ultrasonic cavitation, mechanical vibration, active cooling and heating, powder bed-electron beam melting additive manufacturing, etc. for processing of metals, polymers and composite materials; (2) Microstructure Evolution: theoretical and experimental studies related to microstructure evolution of materials including prediction of solidification-related defects and particle pushing/engulfment aspects; (3) Novel Casting and Molding Processes: modeling and experimental aspects including high pressure die casting, permanent casting, centrifugal casting, low pressure casting, 3D silica sand mold printing, etc.; and (4) Cast Iron: all aspects related to cast iron characterization, computational and analytical modeling, and processing.