Re: ATM - Casting Aluminum

["Joseph O'Neil" <joneil@multiboard.com>]

At 09:43 13/01/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Been there, done that. It might be worth clarifying
>the reason for the explosion. It sounds like you were
>applying direct heat to the concrete that the aluminium
>was resting on. This no doubt caused moisture in the
>concrete to expand causing it to burst.
>
>I beleive any mold used for metal casting or crucible
>used for melting must be be verifiably dry and free of
>air pockets that may trap moisture before use.
>Thanks
>Mark Alsing

        heat is a factor two - I have a coupel relatives and freinds who have or
do work in the foundry business.  Oen of them told me a story form some
years ago when they first started on the job.
        This was at a large steel foundy.  His job was introducing new ignots into
the forge for melting, but he had to pre-heat them first.  He forgot to
pre-heat one of them past room temperature ("room temperature" in this case
being in the 80 to 90F range, due to the heat of the forge), and he said
when he put the ignot in, the difference in heat caused it to explode like
a stick of dynamite.  He says he was lucky to escape alive.
        I do not have all the wherewithall to explain nuances of forging and
casting, only that it is quite the art, and not just a simple process.
joe

http://www.multiboard.com/~joneil
B&W, LF  Images