Investment casting as practiced in the precious metal jewelry industry has been reviewed with emphasis on (1) fluid flow, (2)heat transfer and (3) solidification events which are characteristic of jewelry casting practices. Fluid flow has been shown to be inherently turbulent by calculation of Reynolds Number in gating systems. Heat transfer conditions have been characterized and Chvorinov's law applied for considerations of freezing time in cast parts and gating systems. Solute redistribution during freezing has been calculated for solidification which is occurring under "equilibrium" and "non-equilibrium" conditions.

Author: John McCloskey