Abstract: Silica sol ceramic mold was made at room temperature with JN-30 silica sol, silica powder and NH4Cl. It is found that the harden time of silica sol ceramic mold is only 0.5 to 1.5 h under the amount of NH4Cl solution of 7% to 8% with 15% concentration, and less surface cracks occur by using vacuum drying. The proper vacuum drying process parameters: vacuum drying temperature is 80 to 100℃, drying time is 5 h and vacuum is 0.06 to 0.07 MPa. The harden mechanics, vacuum drying mechanics and the reason of less surface cracks of silica sol ceramic mold by vacuum drying were also analyzed in this paper.

Key words: Silica sol, Ceramic mold, Vacuum drying, NH4Cl solution