Stucco Size Comparison and Simulated Pressure Loading of Investment Casting Shells

This research focuses on changes to physical and mechanical properties of investment casting shells based on the stucco grain size used. Shells were built by mixing colloidal silica with fused silica flour and applying varied sizes of zircon and silica stuccoes between back-up layers. Properties which are presented include layering thickness, permeability, apparent porosity, and flexural load limit. Flexural testing of the shells was performed at both room temperature and 1200C. The results of flexural testing were incorporated into ABAQUS to simulate shell response to pressure. Simulation results were compared against experimental pressure tolerances (burst test) of varied geometries.