The ancient Chinese casting techniques

• Main Authors: Tan Derui, Lian Haiping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Foundry Journal Agency 2011-02-01
• Series: China Foundry
• Subjects: ancient Chinese; casting techniques; alloying; surface protecting and decoration
• Online Access: http://www.foundryworld.com/uploadfile/201131449329893.pdf

In the course of Chinese civilization, which lasted more than 5,000 years, casting production has made a huge contribution. In this paper, some representative metal castings were presented. According to their forming techniques, they can be grouped into stone mould casting, clay mould casting, ablation casting, lost wax casting, stack casting, permanent mould casting, sand casting, etc. According to their materials, they can be categorized into tin bronze, bimetallic bronze, malleable cast iron, ductile cast iron, brass, cupronickel alloy (Packtong), etc. According to their surface decorative techniques they can be devided into gem inlay, gilding, gold and silver inlay, copper inlay, engraved decoration, surface tin-enrichment, mother-of-pearl inlay, burnished works with gold or silver inlay, surface coloring and cloisonné enamel, etc.