EPC has good casting quality low cost.  Material is limited, size is appropriate;  High dimensional accuracy, smooth surface;  Less internal defects, dense tissue;  It can be achieved on a large scale,  mass production;  It can greatly improve the working environment, reduce labor intensity, reduce energy consumption many other advantages, has been widely used in many foundries.

1. Existing problems specific defects of EPC process

Because the EPC process is different other casting processes, there will be some special defects, such as increasing C, increasing H, etc., at the same time, other process methods also exist  however, in the process of EPC, its formation mechanism appearance characterization have different defects.

1.1 Increased segregation of C, H C components

EPS shape under the action of high temperature cracking reaction, in the process of complete cracking, C-H bond is opened, the formation of active free state of C H, this part of the material in the whole  the filling process mainly exists in the "air gap" between the shape the metal liquid, one is through the coating molding sand in the form of gas liquid droplets discharged the mold;  The other is residue

Non-metallic inclusion defects are formed inside on the surface of the casting;  Third, it diffuses into the metal liquid under the action of air pressure is absorbed by the metal liquid, thus polluting the metal liquid making it C,  H increased.

1.2 White defects

The white defect is formed when the dry sand enters the casting under negative pressure in the process of EFC.

1.3 air hole

There is no obvious difference in appearance characterization between the pores produced by EPC those produced by other casting processes, but the formation mechanism is different.

(1) appearance material adhesive type pores.  (2) air entrainment type pores.  (3) water foaming dosage stoma.

1.4 Inclusions generated by pyrolysis

As part of liquid solid products appear in the cracking process of the shape material, it is possible to form lost mold casting in the inside of the casting if they cannot be eliminated distributed centrally in time

Some slag inclusion defects.

1.5 Other defects

It is easy to analyze judge these defects due to deformation, collapse of the box, insufficient pouring, size poor surface, sticky sand, etc., generally in the case of reasonable process effective prevention measures, much  caused by accident operating error.

2. Influencing factors prevention measures of specific defects

With the development of vanishing mode technology, more types of defects may appear.  In the future research work, we should only know how to identify analyze the common defects  it is more important to put forward effective methods to eliminate these defects.

2.1 Appearance factor

The most fundamental difference between EPC casting process other casting processes is that the casting process of EPC process in the "cavity" position of other processes is full of the appearance to be gasified off

Taking out the shape is the biggest charm of the EPC process, but it is also the root of many problems, because the shape gasification process for the whole pouring process is unable to affect  predict.

2.1.1 Appearance quality evaluation control

Among many factors affecting casting quality, shape quality accounts for 50%, 30% depends on coating related technology, 20% depends on molding casting process.  (1) The less dense the shape is,

The larger the ratio to the weight of the casting, the smaller the possibility of defects such as carburization, so it is most important to control the appropriate shape density as low as possible;  (2) take the reasonable

Process measures, process layout, so that carburizing as far as possible evenly distributed in the casting, carburizing caused by casting composition, performance change will be small, can be adjusted by the melting process,  chemical composition can be controlled;  (3) By artificially controlling the air gap pressure between molten iron the shape, making it as low as possible, improving the pouring speed, the carbon molecules produced by cracking can be molten iron  the absorption rate dropped significantly;  (4) PMMA copolymer resin in the use of EPS density carburization ratio is smaller, but elected with a higher density than EPS PMMA appearance, carburization  a marked increase in the proportion of  (5) greatly increase the temperature, so that the appearance of full cracking, because the temperature is high, carbon absorption fast, the amount of increase, at the same time the gas increase, the pressure increases.

2.1.2 Conclusion the analysis of appearance

It is the most effective basic way to solve the problem of carburizing that the low density of shape the reasonable technological measures are adopted to effectively control the distribution of the optimal flow field temperature field in the pouring process.

2.2 Coating, molding sand other factors

2.2.1 The reason why the research of coating has become the first hot spot

Some progress has been made in the study of shape materials for a period of time.  Coatings cost in the total cost of a high proportion, choose a good low-cost coating for casting enterprises  the industry has a big impact.  Coating quality is closely related to casting quality.

2.2.2 Some experience of improving coating performance

The process details the amount of key additive is an important factor that hinders the development of EPC.  (1) The aggregate with porous granular structure, diatomite aluminum vanadium were selected  soil, etc.;  (2) The thixotropic properties of coatings can be significantly improved by using fiber as the particle shape;  (3) the type particle size distribution of composite aggregate;  (4) as low as possible with inorganic binder  amount, appropriate increase in organic binder content;  (5) choose high refractoriness coating reduce coating thickness;  (6) reduce the density of paint;  Application of new nanometer technology in EPC coatings.

2.3 The importance of casting scheme is understood understood by every casting worker. A good casting scheme is firstly to obtain high-quality castings, secondly

Higher process yield.  EPC traditional casting have certain differences in the process design principles: (1) to ensure enough pressure head, so that the metal head more than liquid metal EPS between  the pressure of the air gap can ensure that the filling model does choke;  (2) Try to use a closed gating system to reduce the formation of turbulent flow in the process of filling, to ensure adequate supply of metal liquid flow,  prevent box collapse;  (3) simplify the composition of the gating system as far as possible, can achieve the best straight-inside structure.

2.4 Negative pressure factors

Negative pressure usually has the following functions: (1) enhance the strength  stiffness of the casting mold, prevent sand washing collapse;  (2) accelerate gas discharge, improve the workshop environment;  (3) supply metal  liquid filling capacity.  Negative pressure also brings many problems: (1) cause liquid iron turbulence, so that the filling process part of the gasification products involved in liquid iron to form non-metallic inclusions porosity defects;  (2)  the metal liquid is easy to move near the mold wall the surface of the mold wall cools too fast. It is very easy to form the shell, which makes it more difficult to fill the mold at some positions, forms the white opening on the surface of ductile iron gray cast iron.  even part of the casting into the "shell";  (3) Negative pressure is easy to make molten iron move to the wall, the high temperature strength of the coating has higher requirements, make the casting appear mechanical sticky sand.

2.5 Temperature factors

EPC usually needs to adopt a casting temperature 30~50℃ higher than sand casting, but the temperature control should be appropriate, the adverse factors of high temperature are mainly as follows:

(1) high temperature often makes the metal metallurgy quality decline, resulting in coarse grain, cast iron white tendency to increase other problems;  (2) the coating sand refractoriness requirements, easy to form  clay sand other defects;  (3) The cost increases, the smelting cost increases, the alloy element burning serious.