Composite components formed by coating a mold with ceramic material

Abstract

Methods and processes are described that form ceramic wear surfaces on the outer surface of a cast part. A mold having a mold cavity is provided. The mold cavity may be washed using a refractory wash to provide for a smoother finish to the surface of the cast part and to maintain mold integrity. An adhesive is applied to predetermined locations in which increased wear during the use of the cast parts is anticipated to occur. Ceramic material may be applied to the predetermined locations by various means. A mask may be used to remove excess material from areas other than the predetermined locations. A molten metal is poured into the mold cavity and allowed to cool to form a cast part with a ceramic wear surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a mold having a cavity;   washing the mold cavity with a refractory wash;   applying a ceramic material to a portion of the mold cavity at a predetermined location of the mold cavity to create a ceramic film at the predetermined location, the ceramic film penetrable by a molten metal; and   pouring the molten metal into the mold cavity to form a cast part, wherein the ceramic material comprises ceramic particles and the molten metal substantially permeates interstitial spaces between the ceramic particles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pouring the molten metal comprises pouring a first metal at a first time and pouring a second metal, which is a different metal than the first metal, at a second time after the first time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pouring the molten metal comprises pouring a first metal into the mold at a first location and pouring a second metal into the mold at a second location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises one of brushing, spraying, or sifting the ceramic material onto the predetermined location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the excess ceramic material from areas other than the predetermined location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the ceramic material comprising alumina and/or zirconia. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching a ceramic insert in the predetermined location to add additional ceramic thickness in the predetermined location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the insert is attached to the predetermined location using a high temperature adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying multiple layers of the ceramic material in multiple applications to add additional ceramic thickness in the predetermined location. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the multiple layers of the ceramic material comprise different types of ceramic material in at least one of the multiple applications. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising subjecting a first side of the cast part to a first heat treatment process and subjecting a second side of the cast part to a second heat treatment process. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises loose ceramic grains. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing the loose ceramic grains with a retaining structure that envelops the loose ceramic grains. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the ceramic material comprises applying a first layer of a first ceramic material and applying a second layer of a second ceramic material. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a mold having a mold cavity;   washing the mold cavity with a refractory wash;   applying a ceramic material to a predetermined location within the mold cavity to create a ceramic film, the ceramic material kept in place using a high temperature adhesive;   removing excess ceramic film material from an undesired location; and   pouring a molten metal into the coated mold to form the cast part, the molten metal penetrating the ceramic film.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , removing the excess ceramic film material from an undesired location using a mask comprises:
 masking areas of the mold cavity other than the predetermined location with an adhesive tape,   applying adhesive to the predetermined location in the mold cavity;   applying ceramic material to the predetermined location in the mold cavity; and   evacuating the ceramic material in the areas other than the predetermined location by removing the adhesive tape.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ceramic material comprises titanium carbide or tungsten carbide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a wall thickness of the cast part formed by the method is between about 0.25 and about 1.5 inches thick. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a ceramic wear part disposed in an outer surface of a cast part, the method comprising:
 providing a body having a wear surface, the providing comprising:
 providing a base metal; and 
 embedding a ceramic material in the base metal in a predetermined location, the predetermined location determined at least in part by the location of the wear surface disposed on the outer surface of the cast part, the ceramic material being applied to the predetermined location prior to pouring a molten base metal into a mold cavity to form the cast part. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein applying the ceramic material further comprises:
 masking areas of the mold cavity other than the predetermined location with an adhesive tape,   applying adhesive to the predetermined location in the mold cavity;   applying ceramic material to the predetermined location in the mold cavity; and   evacuating the ceramic material in the areas other than the predetermined location by removing the adhesive tape.