Development of a nucleation inhibitive coated mold for the rapid solidification of superalloy melt

The development of a glass-lined mold from gels in the ternary system of SiO2–ZrO2–B2O3 by adopting the shell molding technique and sol–gel processing has been investigated. The crystallization characteristics of ZrO2 particles and the high temperature structure stability of Si–Zr–B coating were demonstrated. The inhibitive effect of B2O3 on crystallization in the Si–Zr–B coating was explained. Finally, the result that DD3 single crystal superalloy can obtain high undercooling and realize rapid solidification in it establishes that the Si–Zr–B coated mold has an ideal non-catalytic nucleation inhibition for superalloy melt.