For ceramics, its Plaster of Paris...
2006-08-20 04:34:59 · 5 answers · asked by Danny La Cuesta 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Cast Iron can is primarily made by having mold made of sand. this is called green sand. The sand is actually mixed with a percentage of clay which allows it to bind together and there is a maximum moisture amount that it contains. The moisture must be under a certain amount or the mold will fall apart or explode when the molten iron is introduced.
There is also another process called the lost wax process. In these a positive form is made out of wax and sometimes plastics. They make it out of this material because it easy to machine and manipulate. This is then dunked into a slurry of sand/plaster of Paris. and dried in between each coating. There may be many layer of this done before the mold is ready.
Once all this layering is built up it is placed in an oven where the plastic/wax will melt away leaving a negative impression in the interior of the mold. The mold is then taken out and cooled. It is now prepared to accept molten iron/steel or other molten metals. The molten material is poured in and it fills the voids that were left behind by the plastic/wax. In turn this makes a perfect replica of the wax/plastic model before it was dipped in the slurry.
Many statues are made with this lost wax process because it is very easy for the artist to carve the plastic/wax into the for her or she wants. It is a whole lot easier than carving into a piece of iron / steel / brass or other material.
Below are two links that better explain the process.
Hope this helps some.
2006-08-20 05:58:03 · answer #1 · answered by baudeagle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some form of Sand...
But that would be a good Google search.
There is a Great Show called "How's It Made" on the Discovery channel and they have talked a lot about different mold processes. They just did one on Bronze molds and another one on Plastic Molds.
2006-08-20 04:41:48 · answer #2 · answered by CTM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Individual molds can be made from smelting sand
2006-08-20 04:40:20 · answer #3 · answered by mid_mo_fencing 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it deponds on several fators . what piece do you want to cast? mass production or a few piece ? molds is either metal or sand .
2006-08-21 00:38:44 · answer #4 · answered by eshaghi_2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure exactly. Sand castings are one way. recommend try to find BOSCH web site, as they make castings for brake calipers.
2006-08-20 04:41:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋