Impro Superalloy Investment Casting Superalloys are used in load-bearing structural parts and under high temperatures. As compared to common alloys such as aluminum and steel, superalloys have higher strength, superior anti-corrosion, anti-abrasion and creep resistance properties in extreme operating environments. Today, over 50% of the weight of advanced aircraft engines are comprised of parts and components made out of superalloys1. Nickel and Cobalt-based superalloys are most commonly used materials in the aerospace, energy, medical, chemical, and marine industries. While Nickel-based superalloys have a higher strength at high temperature, Cobalt-based superalloys potentially possess superior hot corrosion, oxidation, and wear resistance as compared to Nickel-based superalloys2. Material scientists are putting a lot of efforts to create new materials with the combined merits of the two materials. Superalloy development has relied heavily on both chemical and process innovations3. Vacuum investment casting process first developed in 1950’s brought forward a breakthrough in engine technology by allowing significantly higher operating temperatures of superalloy components. The majority of vacuum investment castings like turbine blades and vanes for the aircraft and industrial gas turbine industries are made from Ni-base superalloys and are produced in a vacuum induction melting and precision casting furnace4.
Impro’s Superalloy Investment Casting Capabilities Melting and casting process:
In vacuum precision casting furnaces, a master alloy composition is inductively melted and then cast into an investment mold. Impro’s vacuum melting process allows for very fine control of the chemical composition of superalloys and reduction in contamination. ALD Three-Chamber Vacuum Induction Melting and Casting Furnaces with Ceramic Crucibles