 |
Material 17-4: Stainless Steel Castings, Cargo System Component, Aerospace |
Stainless Steel Investment Castings
Aero Metals is your trusted stainless steel casting manufacturer, offering high-precision stainless steel investment castings that deliver enhanced strength, corrosion resistance, impact resistance, and improved aesthetics. Whether your project requires small, medium, or large part or prototype runs for aerospace, military, or other industries, Aero Metals will work with you to design and develop the stainless steel investment casting that meets your project's needs.
Request a quote for direct pricing information on our precision stainless steel investment casting options, or explore our photo gallery to view images of our most recent work.
Popular Stainless Steel Grades Offered by Aero Metals
| Grades | Key Characteristics & Common Usages | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 304 Stainless Steel → |
Valued for its corrosion resistance, cleanliness, and versatility, 304 stainless steel is widely used in valve components, aerospace, food processing, and defense applications. Also known as:
|
|
| 316 Stainless Steel → |
Known for its superior corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and strength, 316 stainless steel is commonly used in demanding marine environments, automotive components, medical equipment, and food processing applications. Also known as:
|
|
| 410 Stainless Steel → |
With its strength, hardness, and wear resistance, 410 stainless steel is well-suited for automotive, wind turbine, firearm, machinery, and pump and valve components.
|
|
| 17-4 PH Stainless Steel → |
Heat-treatable for added strength and durability, 17-4 PH stainless steel combines hardness and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for aerospace, military, marine, firearms, and medical applications. Also known as:
|
Click here to find additional stainless steel alloys we offer
What is Stainless Steel Investment Casting?
Stainless steel investment casting, also referred to as precision casting or lost wax casting, is a manufacturing process used to create complex metal parts in a wide range of shapes and sizes. It involves pouring molten stainless steel into a ceramic shell or mold, which is produced by coating a wax pattern with a ceramic material.
How Does the Stainless Steel Investment Casting Process Work?
After the initial pour and once the ceramic material has solidified around the wax pattern, the wax is melted away, leaving a cavity in the ceramic shell. The molten stainless steel is then poured into this cavity, filling the mold and taking on the shape of the wax pattern. After the metal has cooled and solidified, the ceramic shell is removed, and the finished stainless steel part is cleaned, polished, and inspected for quality.
Stainless Steel Investment Casting Advantages
Investment casting is renowned for producing high-precision parts with exceptional surface finishes. It is a good choice for applications where precision and aesthetics are essential, such as in the medical, aerospace, and automotive industries. Additional stainless steel benefits include:
- Corrosion resistance
- Impact resistance & strength
- Enhanced aesthetic value
- Cost-effective
- Ultra-hygienic
- Heat resistant
- Precision tolerances
Stainless Steel Investment Casting Material Properties
Stainless steel has a minimum chromium content of 10.5%, making it more resistant to corrosive liquid environments and oxidation. However, this is not absolute. Stainless steel investment castings are “corrosion-resistant” when used in fluid environments and vapors below 1200°F (650°C) and “heat-resistant” when used above this temperature.
Precision Casting Stainless Steel Alloy Options
Aero Metal’s stainless steel investment castings are available in several series grades, including 300, 400, 14-4 PH, 15-5 PH, 17-4 PH, and 2205.
Please Note: Custom pours of any “air melted” stainless steel alloy are also available. If you don’t see your alloy of choice listed below, contact us today to learn more about the custom alloy composition capabilities offered by our metallurgist team.
Austenitic (300 Series)
300 Series austenitic stainless steels are a set of iron-based chromium-nickel alloys. The ideal alloy for your application depends on its required corrosion resistance, formability, wear resistance, strength, temperature resistance, cost, and additional factors.
Available 300 Series Grades
- 303 (CF165)
- 304 (CF8)
- 304L (CF3)
- 309 (CH20)
- 310 (CK20)
- 316 (CF8M)
- 316L (CF3M)
Ferritic & Martensitic (400 Series)
The 400 series stainless steel is a stainless steel alloy similar to the 300 series stainless steel. The primary difference between these alloys and their associated grades lies in their chemical composition and constituent elements. 400 SS includes both ferritic and martensitic steels. The best alloy for your application depends on the required corrosion resistance, formability, wear resistance, strength, temperature resistance, cost, and other additional factors.
Available 400 Series Grades
- 410 (CA15)
- 416 (IC 416)
- 420 (CA40)
- 431 (IC 431)
- 440A (IC 440A)
- 440C (IC 440C)
Precipitation Hardening (PH) (Martensitic Stainless Steel Grades)
Martensitic stainless steel is known for its high strength, hardness, and wear resistance. Martensitic stainless steel contains 10.5-18% chromium, which increases its corrosion resistance compared to other stainless steel alloys, including the 300 Series and 400 Series.
14-4 PH Series Grades
- AMS5340
15-5 PH
- ASTM A 747 CB 7Cu-2
- AMS 5346
- ASM 5347
- ASM 5356
- AMS 5357
- AMS 5400
17-4 PH
- ASTM A 747 CB 7Cu-1
- AMS 5342/5344
- ASM 5343
- ASM 5355
- MIL-S-81591 IC -17-4
Stainless Steel Investment Castings Industries Served
Premium stainless steel investment castings provide increased corrosion resistance, enhanced surface finishes, and improved detailing. Industries that commonly use stainless steel investment castings include:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Food Processing
- Desalination Plants
- Pump Manufacturers
- Machinery Producers
- Medical
- Mining
- Petrochemical
- Agriculture
- Energy
Stainless Steel Investment Casting Application Considerations
Considerations when choosing a stainless steel casting alloy include:
- Operating Environment Requirements: corrosion resistance, strength, hardness, operating temperature
- Castability & Machinability: casting requirements, machinability needs
- Heat Treatment Requirements: annealing, magnetic properties
- Regulatory & Industry Standards: ensuring alloy grade meets specific industry requirements
Why Choose Aero Metals for Your Stainless Steel Investment Casting Needs?
Aero Metals has over 60 years of experience producing high-quality and high-volume investment castings. When you partner with us, you can take advantage of our many services and benefits:
- In-house tooling, engineering, and prototyping support
- Exceptional quality control and inspection standards
- CNC machining for secondary operations
- Experience with high-complexity and precision-critical parts
- Reliable turnaround and competitive pricing
- One-stop shop for design to finished casting
Get the results you need for any investment casting order from Aero Metals.
Contact Aero Metals Today!
We are proud to be your trusted source for premium stainless steel investment castings. Contact us for more information, or request a quote today!
