Previously we have reported on the use of controlled stress rheometry (alongside DMA and DSC) as a method for investigating the behavior of casting waxes during the injection and subsequent cooling processes.

This paper reports the use of temperature ramped controlled stress rheometry (yield measurement) and temperature controlled FTIR to investigate the behavior of wax during the autoclave process. Drawing on results obtained from Birmingham (UK) University’s FOCAST (Fundamentals Of investment CASTing) programme, experiments have been carried out to investigate factors affecting the flow and absorption characteristics of wax at the shell/wax interface during the early stages of the autoclave process. Results are reported focusing on the variation in time and temperature response of various waxes, and the potential effects upon the dewax process.