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Inoculants

Questions we are asked

Frequently asked questions

What types of inoculant do you supply?

Ferro silicon based inoculants with calcium, barium, strontium or zirconium as the active element, sized for ladle, in-stream or in-mould addition.

Which type suits my foundry?

It follows from your method and holding time. Barium grades resist fade better where metal is held or poured over a longer run. Strontium grades are effective against thin-section chill. Zirconium grades help where nitrogen pinholes are a problem. Calcium-bearing grades are the general purpose baseline.

What addition rate should I use?

Roughly 0.1% to 0.3% of metal weight for ladle inoculation, and considerably less for in-stream or in-mould methods because the addition happens immediately before solidification with almost no fade.

What size fraction do I need?

It depends entirely on the method. Ladle inoculation typically uses 0.2–6 mm depending on ladle size, in-stream requires fine material around 0.2–0.7 mm, and in-mould uses cast inserts. Tell us your method and we will supply the matching fraction.

Why do my results vary between ladles?

That pattern usually points to fade rather than product. Inoculation decays substantially within 10 to 15 minutes, so inconsistent holding time before pouring produces inconsistent castings. Late addition is the most reliable fix.

Can you supply trial quantities?

Yes. Inoculant performance depends on your base iron chemistry and superheat, so trialling on your own metal with chill wedge tests and metallography is the only reliable way to choose. Contact us to arrange a trial quantity.

Have a question that is not answered here? Talk to our team — send your specification, tonnage and destination and we will come back with a quotation.

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