The course is divided in 2 modules according the following topics:
MODULE 1
- Solidification: fundaments of nucleation and growth;
- Melting and holding furnaces;
- Cores formation: process and plants, materials and problems (hot box, cold box, warm box, shell moulding);
- Sand casting: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Lost foam: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Lost wax: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Investment casting: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Gravity or chill casting: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Low pressure die-casting: process and plants, materials and problems;
- High pressure die-casting: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Centrifugal casting: process and plants, materials and problems;
- Unidirectional solidification and single crystal solidification;
- Innovative techniques (squeeze casting, rheocasting, thixocasting, vacuum..)
- Simulation of foundry processes: practical exercises by using fem software to simulate die filling and casting solidification.
MODULE 2
- Electric Furnace steelmaking (classification, design, refractories, electric system and power generation, electrode manufacturing, raw materials selection, developments, etc..)
- Ladle refining (steel tapping and stirring, bath reheating, ladle furnace, vacuum degassing, etc..)
- Refining of stainless steels (AOD, KCB-S, K-BOP/K-OBM-S, MRP and CLU)
- Continuous casting (historical aspects and key technologies, components and quality)
