Investment Casting Range

Product Overview

IPS Ceramics supply a range of ceramic products to the Investment Casting industry, including Pouring Cups, Vent Plugs, and Support Rods. These are used during the investment casting process (also known as “lost wax” and “precision” casting).

Pouring Cups are fused to the wax shell and allow the user to pour molten materials into it more efficiently and easily; Pouring Cup Lids are also available. Vent Plugs are used to plug holes in the shell, making for a cleaner cast product which requires less finishing. Support Rods are placed throughout the shell to provide more structural support in required areas; Notched Support Rods are also available. Saggars are used to pre-fire the complex cores required to produce hollow casings.

IPS Ceramics’ Investment Casting Products are all available in a range of sizes, shapes and materials that can be customised to fit your application. They are volume stable and temperature resistant, allowing them to withstand the high temperatures and pressures which come with investment casting. Our products are proven in the industry over years of use and have high levels of availability.

Used across the advanced engineering scene, investment, lost wax and precision casting are vital to the aerospace, defence, power generation, automotive, oil, gas, and jewellery industries.

Find out how our expert team and products can help your investment casting applications by making an enquiry on our Contact Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Products	Pouring Cups	Vent Plugs	Support Rods	Saggars
Composition
Minerology	Mullite	Mullite	Corundum	Cordierite / Mullite
Al₂O₃	65%	70%	95%	45%
SiO₂	30%	25%	3%	45%
Fe₂O₃	0.5%	0.5%	0.05%	1%
Other	3%	3%	2%	7%
Properties
Max. Service Temp.	1650°C / 3000°F	1650°C / 3000°F	1650°C / 3000°F	1250°C / 2300°F
Bulk Density	2.2 g/cm³	2.0 g/cm³	3.7 g/cm³	2.0 g/cm³
Open Porosity	30%	29%	0%	24%
Modulus of Rupture (room temp.)	20 MPa	50 MPa	250 MPa	12 MPa
Modulus of Rupture (1250°C / 2280°F)	15 MPa	—	—	13 MPa
Thermal Expansion (20-1000°C / 70-1830°F)	6.5 x10⁻⁶/K	5 x10⁻⁶/K	8 x10⁻⁶/K	2.4 x10⁻⁶/K
Specific Heat Capacity	0.8 kJ/kg.K	0.8 kJ/kg.K	0.8 kJ/kg.K	0.8 kJ/kg.K
Thermal Conductivity	2 W/mK	3 W/mK	25 W/mK	1.0 W/mK