why Since its introduction in 2004, products

made with RFM gained wide popularity in

Ladles with
RFM Material
Contributes t
all metal casting foundries by improving
performance and saving energy. The following Because RFM has
characteristics attracted customers to use better heat retention,
RFM products: it is possible to lower
• Naturally non-wetting: no dross buildup, the furnace temperature, resulting in energy
hence reduces oxide induced scraps. savings. The graph below illustrates the
• Long operational life: contributes to higher temperature loss during the first few seconds
production yield and less downtime. after ladle filling. The RFM ladle shows an
average temperature drop of 15°F (8°C),
• Greater thermal insulation: contributes to
while conventional steel dropped an
lower furnace holding temperatures.
RFM® (Reinforced Fiberglass Material) is average of 40°F (22°C).
• Special composite ceramic: zero iron This can result in
a composite ceramic material that is both contamination yields higher quality parts. savings of thousands
tough and tolerant of mechanical abuse. • High impact resistance: helps protect of dollars a year in
Pyrotek’s patented RFM material and design against unexpected crashes. energy consumption.
exhibits various advantages when compared • Flexible material formed into complex
to traditional cast iron, fiber laminated and designs: addresses critical space
constraints in tight holding furnace dip
other ceramic materials. RFM was developed wells.
in response to a need for a new refractory
material having the following properties: Key Benefits
• Light, thin, strong and crack resistant • Reduces buildup of aluminium, a problem
material that leads to subsequent high scraps.

• Low mass and thermal conductivity • Reduces or eliminates oxide return to the
holding furnace, an increasing requirement
• Excellent molten aluminium of the major automotive companies.
chemical resistance
• Reduces casting machine downtime, an
• Minimal preheating—only to expensive consequence for the diecaster.
remove surface moisture
• Lower acquisition cost verses service life.
• Suitable for complex shapes
• Easy to clean
 STEEL OR
ATTRIBUTES RFM CERAMIC CAST IRON Modern Casting—Thin Wall Ladle
Resistance to êêêêê êêêêê êêêêê Improves Aluminium Diecaster’s
Chemical • RFM is naturally • Can contain • Protected by
Attack non-wetting non-wetting agent coatings
Efficiency
to molten to guard against • Requires (April 2009, page 46)
aluminium aluminium attack frequent coating
• To further • Careful maintenance to “ General Aluminium Manufacturing...RFM
enhance preheating prevent metal
non-wetting practices required sticking and
technology consistently achieves six months of
properties, the to prevent non- erosion service life and more than 150,000 shots...The
finished RFM wetting agent • Potential of iron RFM material is more durable and offers superior
ladle is coated from burning contamination
with boron • Frequent
insulating properties in comparison to many
nitride Lubricoat recoating materials often used in this application...”
Blue® ZS required

Preheating Minimal Required Significant

Requirements • Minimal • Requires • Requires
preheating time preheating above significant
is required for the furnace to preheating time
removal of any prevent thermal above furnace Foundry Trade Journal—
moisture from shock and to condition
ladle remove moisture the coating
Composite RFM Ladle Shows
and remove Benefits in Aluminium Casting
moisture
(Dec. 2006, page 3)
Mechanical êêêêê êêêêê êêêêê
Strength • Excellent • More prone to • Metal strong “ RFM ladles are extremely thermal shock-
mechanical thermal shock but with high resistant...”
properties cracking rate of thermal
• Internal • Cracks and conductivity
reinforced fiber breaks can occur
material offers if not preheated
exceptional properly
strength
Cast Metal & Diecasting Times—
Optimize Casting Performance
Service Life êêêêê êêêêê êêêêê
• Field test results • Low mechanical • Most ferrous and Metal Quality with Pyrotek
show extensive
service life
strength and
high preheating
products have
to be welded
(Oct / Nov 2009, page 19)
improvement requirements and repaired to
lead to short achieve their
“...For improving metal quality, Pyrotek
service life rated life is the definitive source. Thin-Wall RFM
Process
ladle, designed to address the tight space
êêêêê êêêêê êêêêê
Improvements Can be • Thermal shock • Off-the-shelf constraints of the dip well and pouring
engineered and resistance and common envelope typically used in high pressure
designed to: • Longer life span with no diecasting applications...”
• Reduce oxides than steel or cast added values
and inclusions iron to process
• Reduce skull, improvements
therefore less
waste
• Reduce furnace
temperature Contact Information: www.pyrotek.info/locations
• More energy
efficient PYROTEK INC., CORPORATE OFFICE
705 W. 1ST AVENUE, SPOKANE, WA 99201 USA
P: 1-509-926-6212 F: 1-509-927-2408
www.pyrotek.info email: info@pyrotek.info
FEB-13-EL-1323