Stainless Steel Casting - Definition, Benefits, and Applications

2022-08-10

Stainless steel casting, also called stainless steel investment casting, is the casting process that involves casting molten stainless steels into certain molds that will help shape the completed stainless-steel parts, components, and prototypes. This is a type of investment casting method that uses stainless steel as its primary material, which will involve putting the molten stainless-steel metals into the wax and ceramic molds to get the shape you want to have.

Depending on the grades of the stainless-steel materials, you will get unique characteristics for the finished parts. For instance, you can get a higher level of corrosion resistance the higher the stainless-steel material grades you are using. 

Benefits of Stainless-Steel Casting

Stainless-steel casting can provide you with many benefits. First, the cast metal objects will be free of corrosion, and the level of corrosion resistance will depend on the grade of the stainless-steel materials you are using in the casting process. So, there will be some flexibility for you to lower the costs of production based on the quality you want to get for the completed products. 

Here are the benefits of stainless-steel casting:

●Corrosion resistance. The cast stainless-steel objects have a surface layer that prevents the oxidation process from happening, so it won’t be susceptible to corrosion and rusting. The higher the grade of the stainless-steel materials, the higher the corrosion resistance level of your stainless-steel parts will be. 

●Dimensional precision and accuracy. Stainless steel casting can also produce metal objects or components with dimensional precision and accuracy. So, your completed objects will follow your design requirements to the letter, with no deviation in their dimensional characteristics. 

●Resistance to high temperatures. The cast stainless-steel objects will also be resistant to high temperatures, so you don’t need to worry that the object will melt when exposed to heat. This is the reason you can use stainless-steel parts for automotive engines, where these parts get exposed in constant high temperatures.

●Smooth surface finish. Stainless-steel casting can also provide stainless-steel objects that have smooth surface finish, so you don’t need to apply any additional surface finishing process for the completed metal parts.

●Complex details. You can also create stainless-steel objects that have complex details, which include threads and undercuts. These complex details are useful for you to produce parts or components that you need to fit with other components to ensure that they will be a perfect fit and there will be no mistakes or defects in the production process.

Applications of Stainless-Steel Casting

Stainless steel is always preferable to use than iron or regular steel, as it has the surface layer that can resist the natural oxidation process. It also means that you can use and keep the stainless-steel parts or components for a long time without worrying about rusting and corrosion problems. 

Thus, there are plenty of applications of stainless-steel casting, considering that it can provide manufacturers with much more benefits than the regular steel or iron casting. Here are the applications of stainless-steel casting:

●Construction. This is perhaps the most common application of stainless-steel casting. You can use various stainless-steel objects in constructions and buildings around the world to ensure that the construction or building will last long without damaging their appearance because of corrosion.

●Automotive. Stainless-steel parts and components are also useful in a vehicle assembly process. Manufacturers use stainless-steel materials to produce various vehicle’s exhaust pipes. Stainless-steel parts and components are also useful for the vehicle’s engine system, as they can withstand high temperatures during their operations.

●Kitchenware. Kitchenware, such as cutlery, spoons, and forks, uses stainless-steel casting to produce them. Stainless-steel kitchenware will last long, and you don’t need to risk your health by using rusted or corroded kitchenware when you use stainless-steel materials to produce them.

●Pumps. Pumps, valves, and other related components often use stainless-steel casting to produce them. You can use stainless-steel pumps and other components for your house, office, and various public places. Stainless-steel casting can produce complex details of pumps and valves to use in different applications. 

●Food processing equipment. There’s a wide range of food processing equipment that uses stainless-steel parts, such as coffee maker, food grinder, and many others. Stainless-steel materials are best to use in various food processing equipment because these materials are free of corrosion, and you don’t need to worry that these materials will contaminate your foods.

●Medical equipment. With its dimensional accuracy and precision, stainless-steel casting is useful to produce various medical equipment, which includes surgical tools, wheelchairs, stretchers, and other equipment used to help medical professionals work to heal their patients. 

Conclusion

Stainless-steel casting provides you with the best way to cast stainless-steel metal objects for various industrial applications. Depending on the material grades you are using, you can produce stainless steel objects that will have different corrosion resistance levels and other characteristics.

You can also use stainless-steel casting to create metal objects with a high level of complexity, along with smoother surface finishes and a high level of dimensional accuracy.