CHARACTERIZATION AND FORMULATION OF WAX COMPOSITION FOR PATTERNS IN INVESTMENT CASTING

In this research, a series of experiments were conducted involving the combination of selected natural waxes with synthetic waxes such as paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax, aimed at enhancing the investment casting process. The natural waxes considered for blending included beeswax, carnauba wax, and microcrystalline wax. Different blends were formulated with proportions ranging from 100% paraffin wax to 100% natural wax, and various properties of these blends, including ash content, density, specific gravity, melting point, surface finish, and shrinkage, were meticulously analyzed. The outcomes of the study revealed that specific blends, namely F2 (20% beeswax + 80% paraffin wax), F3 (20% carnauba wax + 80% paraffin wax), and B1 (80% microcrystalline wax + 20% paraffin wax), displayed notable enhancements compared to the natural waxes alone. Notably, when utilizing the F2 blend, a gear was casted with remarkable surface smoothness and dimensional precision, signifying its suitability for wax pattern production in investment casting. Therefore, it is recommended to employ the blended waxes F2, F3, and B1 for the fabrication of wax patterns in investment casting applications.