Cracks in castings can be a big problem in the jewelry manufacturing process, especially if you recognize the cracks late in the production process - maybe even when you finish the product. In such cases the following cost can be very high; therefore, it can be a good tool to know more about this challenge. This presentation shows what happens with cracks in cast jewelry parts. It describes the metallurgical background to crack nucleation. Critical alloy systems will be shown and discussed, as well as possible prevention. Steps to reduce cracking in critical alloy systems and crack repair techniques will also be presented.

Author: Klaus Wiesner