Slurry Additives
Wetting Agents & Antifoams for Investment Casting Slurries
Peneq supplies high-performance wetting agents and antifoam additives designed to optimize the performance of investment casting slurries. These additives improve slurry stability, coating quality, and overall shell-building efficiency, and are fully compatible with Peneq binder and refractory systems.
Some Peneq mono-component binder systems already contain optimized levels of wetting agents and antifoam additives, eliminating the need for additional dosing.
Our technical team is available to recommend the most suitable slurry additives and provide expert support for slurry preparation, maintenance, and process optimization.
2-Ethylhexanol – Antifoam Additive
2-Ethylhexanol is an effective antifoam additive designed for colloidal silica-based primary slurries in investment casting. It helps control foam formation, improving slurry consistency and coating quality.
Key Features & Benefits
- Reduces foam in colloidal silica primary slurries
- Improves slurry stability and application consistency
- Recommended dosage: 0.25–0.50% of the total slurry liquid
- Not recommended for use with LUDOX® SK slurry systems
Foamaway® – Silicone Antifoam
Foamaway® is a high-performance silicone-based antifoam developed for alkaline colloidal silica slurries used in investment casting. It provides rapid foam control while maintaining long-term slurry stability.
Key Features & Benefits
- Immediate defoaming action
- Long-lasting foam prevention
- Excellent stability in alkaline slurry systems
- Optimized for colloidal silica-based investment casting slurries
- Improves slurry consistency and coating performance
Burst® 100 – High-Performance Antifoam
Burst® 100 is a versatile antifoam additive designed to control foam in investment casting slurries. It rapidly breaks down foam and releases trapped air, ensuring smoother slurry application and improved shell quality.
Compatible with a wide range of wetting agents, Burst® 100 performs effectively in both alkaline and acidic binder systems, making it suitable for various slurry formulations.
Key Features & Benefits
- Rapid foam breakdown and air bubble release
- Long-lasting foam control
- Compatible with most wetting agents
- Effective in both alkaline and acidic binder systems
- Improves slurry stability and coating consistency
- Ideal for high-productivity investment casting operations
Victawet® 12 – Wetting Agent
Victawet® 12 is a low-foaming, non-ionic wetting agent designed for investment casting slurries. Effective in both acidic and alkaline binder systems, it improves wax wetting, accelerates refractory dispersion, and enhances slurry consistency without reducing slurry life.
Key Features & Benefits
- Non-ionic, low-foaming formulation
- Compatible with acidic and alkaline binder systems
- Excellent wetting of wax patterns
- Fast dispersion of refractory materials into slurry
- Maintains long slurry life
- Good dispersing and emulsifying properties
- Stable across a wide pH range
For optimum foam control, Victawet® 12 is recommended for use with Burst® 100 or Foamaway® antifoam additives.
RWMWT WET-IN – Wetting Agent
RWMWT WET-IN is a high-performance wetting agent formulated for investment casting slurries. It enhances wax wetting, promotes rapid dispersion of refractory materials, and maintains excellent slurry stability for consistent shell production.
Key Features & Benefits
- Excellent wetting of wax patterns
- Rapid wetting and dispersion of slurry refractories
- Does not reduce slurry life
- Strong dispersing and emulsifying properties
- Stable in both acidic and alkaline binder systems
- Thermally stable up to 150°C (300°F)
- Improves slurry consistency and coating performance
AEROSOL® OT-75 – Wetting Agent
AEROSOL® OT-75 is an anionic surfactant that provides outstanding wetting performance in investment casting slurries, even at low addition levels. It is compatible with all standard REMASOL® binder grades as well as the LUDOX® SK binder family.
Key Features & Benefits
- Excellent wetting performance at low dosage
- Improves slurry coverage and wax pattern wetting
- Compatible with REMASOL® and LUDOX® SK binder systems
- Suitable for a wide range of investment casting slurry formulations
- May produce higher foam levels under high-shear mixing conditions; use with an appropriate antifoam additive when required
Dryness Indicator
Peneq Dryness Indicator is a fluorescent dye additive designed for water-based investment casting slurries. It provides a clear visual indication when a ceramic shell coat has dried sufficiently, helping ensure the correct timing between successive dipping cycles.
Key Features & Benefits
- Visual confirmation of shell dryness before re-dipping
- Designed for water-based slurry systems
- Helps optimize drying cycles and process consistency
- Reduces the risk of coating defects caused by insufficient drying
- Improves shell quality and production efficiency
CA68 Cobalt Aluminate
CA68 Cobalt Aluminate is a high-purity refractory additive with a cobalt content ranging from 32.5% to 36.0%, specifically developed for use in investment casting applications where precise control of grain structure at the metal surface is required.
Its composition and stability make it particularly effective in primary slurry systems, supporting controlled grain refinement and improved surface quality in high-performance cast components.
Key Features & Benefits
- High cobalt content (32.5%–36.0%) for effective grain control
- Enhances surface grain refinement in investment castings
- Suitable for demanding applications requiring controlled microstructure
- High-purity formulation for consistent performance
- Ideal for use in advanced alloy and superalloy casting systems