Metallic tools obtained from ceramic moulding using a Sol-Gel process

The conversion of models obtained by rapid prototyping (RP) techniques into metallic tools using a sol-gel process is presented. The process main steps are: production of a ceramic slurry which suffers a sol-gel reaction, cast the slurry into a box containing the model, stabilisation, burning, sintering and casting the metallic alloy. Processing parameters like ceramic/binder proportion, sintering time and temperatures, pouring conditions and others have a very important influence on the final quality of the metallic tools. This work presents the effect of the above parameters on the surface roughness, mechanical strength and volumetric changes from the models to the metallic tools obtained.