Titanium Casting Molds via Selective Laser Sintering

A mold material system has been developed that can be SLS processed and used to cast titanium alloys. Stabilized zirconia, chosen forits low reactivity with molten titanium, has been sintered into mold shapes. The molds have been infiltrated with a colloidal solution ofunstabilized zirconia and fired to create a partially stabilized structure. ·SEM analysis shows that the unstabilized zirconia forms bridges between the larger stabilized zirconia particles that provide strength to the mold.