The Influence of the Shape of Wax Pattern on the Kinetics of Drying of Ceramic Moulds

J. Zych, J. Kolczyk, Ł. Jamrozowicz, AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Foundry Engineering, Kraków, Poland Multi-layer ceramic moulds are built of slurry and a refractory material forming their matrices. From the moment when the European Union introduced regulations concerning the environment protection requiring substitution of alcoholic binders by aqueous binders, several difficulties in making moulds occurred. The influence of selected factors on drying ceramic moulds applied in the investment casting technology was determined by the gravimetric method. It was found that each successive layer, of a similar thickness, is drying longer than the previous one. The drying time of layers forming a deep cavities is several times longer as compared with drying open surfaces (external). Extension scale of the drying time is a function of the slenderness of cavities.