Comparison of the advantages of silica sol process with other processes

Common processes in the stainless steel casting industry include water glass process, ethyl silicate process and our silica sol process.

Compared with the water glass process, the silica sol process has higher precision and better surface quality. Silica sol can produce parts with complex shapes and can achieve high-precision dimensional control. The dimensional accuracy can reach CT4-CT6 level, while the water glass process is limited by mold making and has relatively low precision. The dimensional accuracy is generally at CT7-CT9 level. For example, in the casting of some small precision parts in the aerospace field, the silica sol process can better meet the high-precision requirements; the surface of silica sol castings is smooth and flat, with low roughness, which can reduce the workload of subsequent processing, while the surface of water glass castings is relatively rough and darker in color, and may require more subsequent processing. The internal structure of silica sol castings is dense and uniform, and has high mechanical properties such as strength and hardness. In contrast, the internal structure of water glass castings is not dense enough, and it is easy to produce defects such as pores and inclusions, and the mechanical properties are relatively low.

Compared with the ethyl silicate process, the main components of silica sol are silicon dioxide and water, the cost of raw materials is lower, and the price of finished products has certain advantages. At the same time, ethyl silicate will produce organic volatiles such as ethanol during production and use, which will pollute the environment to a certain extent. Silica sol is a water-based binder that does not contain organic solvents and is more environmentally friendly.

The silica sol process is suitable for casting a variety of alloy materials, such as stainless steel, alloy steel, aluminum alloy, etc., and can provide good molding effects for parts of different materials. And it can produce castings of various shapes and sizes, from small precision parts to large castings, with a wide range of applications.

Once the mold and process parameters are determined, mass production can be achieved, with a low scrap rate and high comprehensive production efficiency. It can meet the large-volume needs of customers.