Affordable, Improved Plastic Patterns for Percision Investment Castings

Our main objective will be to investigate and develop an affordable injected plastic for pattern making of investment cast jet engine components. The developed plastic will have better cs than currently used pattern materials and will be readily moldable for fine details and good die fill. UDC will prove the feasibility and potential advantages of the new materials and modified processing methods during this Phase I program. UDC will develop an affordable approach to minimize the cost of the die as well as the pattern making process. The developed materials will be tested by the fabrication of small parts. The tests will include flowability, ease of molding, shrinkage and low temperature clean burn out. The developed materials and processing will be demonstrated by the fabrication and testing of small investment casting by the end users. At the end of Phase I, we will provide a report with results and conclusions, and a Phase II plan, schedule and cost estimate.