Shrinkage cavity

Shrinkage cavities are structural irregularities that form during the solidification process in cast materials due to shrinkage. These occur particularly frequently in the production of thick-walled castings. They are vacuum voids inside the material that occur in the areas with the greatest wall thickness, either individually or in groups.

To minimise the formation of shrinkage cavities, various measures can be taken during the casting process, such as the precise control of temperature and process pressure. This is because the presence of shrinkage cavities has a negative effect on the structural integrity of the cast component. They lead to a weakening of the cross-section and can cause notch effects, which in turn impairs the strength of the component.