Microstructure and Performance of Fused Silica-Based Ceramic Core Reinforced by Mullite Fiber

Fused silica-based ceramics are often used as sacrificial cores in investment castings to produce hollow, precise, and complex-shaped blades. In this work, the content of mullite fiber and its effects on mechanical and dimension behavior of silica-based ceramic cores were investigated. In order to simulate the single crystal blades casting process, the sintered samples were also heated up to 1540°C and kept for 0.5 h. Flexural strength test at 1540°Cwas carried out for the samples. The shrinkage, creep behavior and erode behavior were characterized. The results showed that in the premise of maintaining strength of materials, mullite fiber could decrease significantly the shrinkage. Many gains appeared on the surface of fiber after creep test of the core samples at 1540°C.