×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Ethyl Silicate Block Mold, Possible?

Ethyl Silicate Block Mold, Possible?

Ethyl Silicate Block Mold, Possible?

(OP)
Ethyl Silicate or similar binders seem to be ideal for my casting process. It is water soluble, minimally reactive, and able to withstand high temperatures.

 I have contacted several investment casting supply companies for more information, but my interest has not been returned, I fear because my company currently has a very low profile.

I cannot find any information about using ethyl silicate or other binders normally used in slurry coating, as binders for a solid block mold.

Is this because its a ridiculous idea for whatever reason, or because no one has needed to try it yet?

Will the mold crack? Does ethyl silicate just not do well in larger thicknesses? Are there any alternatives, that do not include gypsum or phosphate binders?

For additional clarification on what I am trying to do: essentially I am trying to create a solid block mold that can be used to cast a highly intricate and pure copper part. Gypsum has been found to react with copper due to the sulfur, and phosphate based plasters are far too strong to remove after casting, except by excessive chemical soaking.
 

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources