Patent ID: 8307882

Claim:
A method of single crystal casting of a component, the method comprising: forming a wax pattern of the component with one or more pieces of ceramic material adjacent to the wax pattern in direct thermal contact with a location or locations corresponding to a part or parts of the component where relatively quick solidification of a molten liquid may occur during casting relative to the remainder of the component, wherein the one or more pieces of ceramic material are located in a die and wax in liquid form is poured into the die so as to solidify with the one or more pieces of ceramic material adhered to the wax pattern; forming a mould about the wax pattern and the one or more pieces of ceramic material; providing a molten liquid within a volume bounded by the one or more ceramic pieces and the mould located in a furnace; and gradually withdrawing the mould downwardly from the furnace, wherein the one or more pieces of ceramic material retain heat of the furnace, and direct thermal contact of the one or more pieces of ceramic material with a corresponding part or parts of the component delays cooling of the corresponding part or parts, such that propagation of a single crystal is achieved.