WATER GLASS CASTING VS SILICA SOL CASTING
What Is Water Glass Casting?
Water glass casting involves water glass quartz sand as the molding substance. It can endure temperatures up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. It is more costly than wet clay sand and uses a different technique called “water glass method.” Water glass de-waxes in the high-temperature water, and the ceramic mold is formed of water glass quartz sand.
The density of Water glass is the highest and has the greatest viscosity. The coating powder-liquid ratio is lower, there are more flaws, and it has greater viscosity.
What Is Silica-Sol Casting?
The silica sol casting process uses zircon sand as the molding material. This can tolerate temperatures up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This molding material is quite costly.
Silica sol is a milky colloid. Because the colloid grains are tiny (10-20 micrometer) and have a large surface area, they do not interfere with the materials’ natural color.
Silica sol is soluble in water and not in organic solvent. It may be mixed with any proportion of alcohol or water to dissolve. The unique feature is that, because of its low viscosity, it can soak the regions where water soaks. This results in excellent dispersion and permeability when combined with other substances. When the moisture evaporated from silica sol, colloid grains adhere firmly to the material’s surface. After that, a combination of silicon and oxygen is formed between grains as a result of this evaporation. It has good adhesive properties.
Water Glass Casting VS Silica Sol Casting
The most popular investment casting processes today are water glass and silica sol investment casting. The major differences between the two are in the surface roughness and cost of production. The water glass technique de-waxes into a high-temperature bath, while the ceramic mold is made of water glass quartz sand. Silica sol method de-waxes into a flash fire, while silica sol zircon sand is used to make the ceramic mold.
Investment casting is a method of casting. It can be used to create everything from tiny castings weighing less than a few ounces to large castings weighing hundreds of pounds. It’s more expensive than die or sand casting. However, its per-unit costs decrease as production volumes rise. Investment casting allows you to make complicated forms. It also enables the creation of products with exceptional surface features and tight tolerances. It only needs little surface finishing or machining needed.
In terms of shell dry process, the two differ significantly. The drying process in silica sol shell is natural and takes place at constant temperature and humidity levels. which necessitates more time and money. Water glass shell is dried using a chemical hardener.
Here’s a table showing a summary of the differences between Silica-Sol Casting and Water Glass Casting
| WATER GLASS INVESTMENT CASTING | SILICA SOL INVESTMENT CASTING | |
| Unit Weight | 0.1 – 100kg | 0.1 – 100kg |
| Size Limitation | 0.01 – 0.5 meter | 0.01 – 0.5 meter |
| Complexity | Complex | Very complex |
| Wall Thickness | >3mm | >1mm |
| Cost | High | Low |
| Machining | Needs less machining | Needs more machining |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Carbon and Alloy Steel |
JC CASTING: THE SOLUTION TO YOUR CASTING NEEDS
Are you looking for a reputable casting manufacturer? we recommend working with us JC Casting. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, JC Casting is a leading provider of high-quality casting solutions. We are confident that they’ll be able to meet your specific needs and requirements. Contact us today to learn more! info@jccasting.com