Ladle
Metal receptacle frequently lined with refractories used for transporting and pouring molten metal. Different types of ladles include hand bull, crane, bottom-pour, holding, teapot, shank, lip-pour.
Ladle, Bottom-Pour
Ladle from which metal flows through a nozzle in the bottom.
Ladle, Bull
Large ladle for transporting and pouring molten metal.
Ladle, Lip-Pour
Ladle in which the metal is poured over a lip.
Ladle, Teapot
A ladle in which, by means of an external spout, metal is removed from the bottom rather than the top of the ladle. See Ladle.
Lance, Oxygen
Long steel pipe or tube, usually covered with refractory, used to inject oxygen into molten steel to reduce the carbon content. Also may be used to open up frozen tap holes in cupolas, etc. See Cupola.
Lap-Gate
When the connection point of ingate to casting overlaps onto the cope surface.
Latent heat
Latent heat is the heat per mass unit required for a phase change to occur.
Latent heat of fusion
The latent heat of fusion describes the energy for the phase change between a liquid and a solid to occur without a change in temperature. Heat energy is required to change a solid into a liquid at a particular temperature, which is known as latent heat of fusion. Similarly, when hot metal changes into a solid at a particular temperature, the energy has to be removed (while the temperature remains constant), which is also called latent heat of fusion.
Lateral Expansion
A measured property used in Charpy Impact Testing. Refers to the increase width of the specimen after fracture. See Charpy Impact Testing.
Leaker
Foundry term for castings which leak under liquid or gaseous pressure.
Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM)
A method of fracture analysis that can determine the stress required to induce fracture instability in a structure with a crack like flaw of know size and shape.
Lining
Inside refractory layer of firebrick, clay, sand, or other material in a furnace or ladle.
Lining, Monolithic
A lining made without the customary layers and joints of a brick wall. Usually made by tamping or casting refractory material into place, drying, and then burning in place on the job.
Linseed Oil
Drying-type oil expressed from flax seeds and used as a binder for core sand. See Binder, Core Sand.
Liquid Contraction
Shrinkage or contraction in molten metal as it cools from one temperature to another while in the liquid state.
Liquid Penetrant Testing
A nondestructive testing method suitable for evaluating the surface integrity of non-magnetic and ferro-magnetic parts.
Liquidus
The temperature at which solidification of metal begins on cooling and the temperature at which the last portion of solid metal becomes liquid on heating.
Loam
A coarse, strongly bonded molding sand used for loam and dry-sand molding.
Loam Mold
A mold built up of brick, covered with a loam mud, and then baked before being poured.
Loam Molding
A system of molding, especially for large castings, wherein the supporting structure is constructed of brick. Coatings of loam are applied to form the mold face.
Locating Pad
A projection on a casting that helps maintain alignment of the casting for machining operations.
Locating Surface
A casting surface to be used as a basis for measurement in making secondary machining operations.
Logo
The sign, mark, or distinguishing letter designating the manufacturer.
Loose Molding
The molding process utilizing unmounted patterns. Gates and runners are usually cut by hand. See Gates, Runners.
Loose Piece
Part of a pattern so attached that it remains in the mold, and is removed after the body of the pattern is drawn. In die-casting, a type of core, (which forms the undercuts, positioned in, but not fastened to, a die and so arranged as to be ejected with the die-casting, from which it is removed and used repeatedly for the same purpose. See Core Box, Pattern.
Loose Pieces
Part of a core box or pattern which remains embedded in the core or mold and is removed after lifting off the core box or drawing the pattern. Backdraft is avoided by this means. See Core Box, Pattern.
Lost Foam Process
Casting process in which a foam pattern is removed fro the cavity by the molten metal being poured. See Mold Cavity.
Lost Wax Process
A method for changing a sculpture made of soft clay into a harder material, such as bronze.
Low Stress Scratching Abrasion
Abrasion involving near zero impingement angle for the striking particle, also parallel flow erosion.
