• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2002

The main objectives were to investigate the suitability of CaO crucible for melting TiAl alloys and to develop investment mold for investment casting of TiAl alloys. TiAl alloy specimen were prepared by plasma arc furnace under argon atmosphere. After melting of TiAl alloy using CaO crucible, the results showed that there is little contamination of oxygen in the TiAl bulk. Conventional vacuum induction furnaces can be readily adaptable to produce cast parts of TiAl without high skilled techniques. The determination of optical metallography and microhardness profiles in investment cast TiAl alloy rods has allowed the gradation of the relative thermal stability of the oxides examined. The molds used for the present study were $ZrO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, CaO stabilized $ZrO_2$ and $ZrSiO_4$. Even although high temperature of mold preheating, $Al_2O_3$ mold is a promising mold material for investment casting of TiAl alloys in terms of thermal stability, cost and handling strength. It is important to take thermal stability and preheating temperature of mold into consideration for investment casting of TiAl alloys.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2003

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of process parameter on alpha-case formation of Ti and TiAl castings. The previous studies showed that the molten titanium is excessively reactive to the refractory oxide mold, resulting in alpha-caes of the titanium castings regardless of composition of titanium alloys. However, the behavior of the alpha-case formation of TiAl alloy is not consistent with conventional titanium alloy. In order to investigate the alpha-case formation of Ti and TiAl castings with process parameter, especially the associated factors of investment mold such as mold material, binder and mold preheating temperature. An attempt has been made to characterize the alpha-case of titanium casting by using optical microscope, EDS, XRD, EMPA and hardness profiles. The formation of the alpha-case on the surface of pure titanium during investment casting was rather by that of solid solution with metallic element from mold material. The required mold strength was obtained with $CaZrO_3$ because of the possibility of using water soluble binder. However, the separation phenomenon between facing and back-up mold materials should be considered. The interfacial reaction of TiAl alloy showed different behavior from that of pure titanium and $Al_2O_3$ was best mold materials. The effect of binder as well as mold material on the formation of alpha-case was significant.