Stainless steel is a ferrous alloy containing chromium, which provides a protective layer against staining and corrosion. It performs well in liquid environments and provides heat resistance at high temperatures. There are numerous types of stainless steel and each contains a different chemical composition. The composition affects mechanical properties and determines whether the material can be further strengthened through heat treatment.
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For investment casting applications requiring corrosion resistance and high strength, stainless steel casting is an ideal choice. The stainless steel investment casting process is used to create components for a range of industries including aerospace, petrochemical, medical, automotive, and food and dairy. Some of the parts and components commonly produced through stainless steel casting include:
Engineered Precision Casting Company, Inc. pours various stainless steel alloys for investment casting including 300 series, 400 series and Precipitation Hardening alloys. Our grades of stainless steel will meet all AMS, MIL, Federal and ASTM specifications. Our stainless steel casting capabilities include dimensions up to 16 x 16 in. and with weights up to 80 lbs.
We perform all our investment casting in-house and specialize in close tolerances and complex casting projects for aerospace, defense and other industries. Our foundry runs dedicated lines for pouring both ferrous and non-ferrous air melt alloys including stainless steel, carbon steel, tool steels, aluminum alloys, and more.
In addition to stainless steel investment casting we provide secondary and support services including heat treatment, CAD modeling, and nondestructive testing. Contact us to learn more about our precision investment casting services.
Austenitic 300 series stainless steel is a nonmagnetic chromium-nickel alloy. These stainless steel casting alloys are known for their excellent corrosion resistance but cannot gain strength through heat treatment. 304-L and 316-L alloys also resist corrosion caused by welding and other high-temperature finishing processes. 300 series alloys are commonly used to investment cast piping and housings for industries including medical, marine, and food and dairy. We provide a range of 300 series stainless steel casting alloys including:
Martensitic 400 series stainless steel is a chromium-magnesium alloy that provides high strength and machinability. This type of stainless steel is magnetic and can be hardened through quench and tempering to produce high strength. 400 series is frequently used for investment casting machine parts and valves for automotive and agriculture applications. We offer the following alloys:
Precipitation hardening alloys provide high strength and corrosion resistance. They are magnetic and can be heat treated and aged to achieve the strength properties of martensitic steels while maintaining corrosion resistance. Precipitation hardening investment casting alloys are widely used by the military and in aerospace and petrochemical applications. We provide PH stainless steel castings using the following alloys:
Stainless steel investment casting, also referred to as precision casting or lost wax casting, is a manufacturing process used to create complex metal parts in a wide range of shapes and sizes. It involves pouring molten stainless steel into a ceramic shell or mold, which is produced by coating a wax pattern with a ceramic material.
Aero Metals Inc. has extensive experience producing high-volume stainless steel investment castings for a broad range of applications spanning various industries, including aerospace, marine, military, and more. Check out our featured cast parts gallery for prime examples of our stainless steel casting work.
Are you interested in learning more about stainless steel precision casting? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
After the initial pour and once the ceramic material has solidified around the wax pattern, the wax is melted away, leaving a cavity in the ceramic shell. The molten stainless steel is then poured into this cavity, filling the mold and taking on the shape of the wax pattern. After the metal has cooled and solidified, the ceramic shell is removed, and the finished stainless steel part is cleaned, polished, and inspected for quality.
Investment casting is known for producing high-precision parts with excellent surface finish. It is a good choice for applications where precision and aesthetics are essential, such as in the medical, aerospace, and automotive industries. Additional stainless steel benefits include:
Stainless steel has a minimum chromium content of 10.5%, making it more resistant to corrosive liquid environments and oxidation. However, this is not absolute. Stainless steel investment castings are “corrosion-resistant” when used in fluid environments and vapors below °F (650°C) and “heat-resistant” when used above this temperature.
The base alloy elements of any nickel-base or stainless steel casting are chromium, nickel, and molybdenum (or “moly”). These three components will determine the casting’s grain structure and mechanical prosperities and will be instrumental in the casting’s ability to combat heat and/or corrosion.
The differences between wrought and cast versions of stainless steel are due to the material’s chemical compositions and micro-grain structure, which is affected by how the material is produced, cast, or extruded. These factors must be considered when choosing an alloy for your stainless steel investment casting metal project.
Aero Metal’s stainless steel investment castings are available in several series grades, including 300, 400, 14-4 PH, 15-5 PH, 17-4 PH, and .
At Aero Metals, we can custom pour any “air melted” stainless steel alloy to fit your stainless steel investment casting project requirements. If you don’t see your alloy of choice listed above, visit our Investment Casting Alloys page for more material options.
Premium stainless steel investment castings provide increased corrosion resistance, enhanced surface finishes, and improved detailing. Industries that commonly use stainless steel investment castings include:
Using our on-site spectrometer, Aero Metals can help you find the right alloy to fit your stainless steel casting requirements. This device allows you to produce your own “specialty alloy” and enables you to change the chemistry to suit your application’s environment.
Want more information on food grade stainless steel pipe fittings? Feel free to contact us.